A year after falling to Ben Shelton in Shanghai, world no. 1 Jannik Sinner served revenge and toppled the American in the fourth round. The Italian prevailed 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 28 minutes, notching his 14th quarter-final from as many tournaments in 2024!
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Jannik had to work hard to earn his 75th Masters 1000 victory, defending all seven break points and stealing Ben's serve from the only opportunity! It was a high-quality match, with Sinner hitting 18 winners and nine unforced errors.
The American added 22 direct points and 17 mistakes, giving everything but falling in straight sets after missing his chances in set number two. Sinner had more service winners and forged the lead from the baseline and the net, taking 12 points more than his rival and emerging at the top as a deserved winner.
They stayed neck and neck in the shortest and most advanced rallies, and world no. 1 forged the advantage in the mid-range exchanges, earning the victory in that segment.
A left-hander made a reliable start, providing two fine holds at the beginning of the duel and making a push on the return at 2-1.
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Jannik faced two break points, defending them with a powerful serve and a well-constructed attack to avoid an early setback. Shelton grabbed the fifth game at love with an ace, and Sinner served well in the next one to lock the result at 3-3.
The lower-ranked player produced another hold at love in game seven, and it all changed two games later. Serving at 4-4, Ben played a terrible drop shot at 30-30 and got broken after spraying a backhand error, propelling his opponent 5-4 in front.
World no. 1 served for the opener in game ten and produced a hold at love with a booming serve, wrapping up the opener 6-4 after 34 minutes. A left-hander landed a forehand winner in the first game of the second set and produced a fine hold.
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The Italian responded with a hold at love in game two after a forehand winner, leveling the score at 1-1.
Jannik Sinner defeated Ben Shelton in the fourth round in Shanghai.
Shelton grabbed the third game with a volley winner at the net before Sinner closed the next one at love with a service winner, keeping his initial shot intact.
Ben forced the rival's mistake in the fifth game, opening a 3-2 advantage. Jannik played a couple of loose shots and faced a break point in game six. He denied it with a crafty drop shot and erased the second with a service winner before holding for 3-3.
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The Italian experienced an ultimate challenge in the eighth game, playing against three break points after sending a forehand long. Jannik kept his composure and saved them, two with powerful serves and the first after the rival's mistake.
The world's best player held with a powerful serve, avoiding a setback and remaining on the positive side. The two-time Major winner extended the set with a service winner in game ten and served to stay in the set again at 5-6.
Sinner held at love with a service winner, introducing a tie break and maintaining the pressure on the other side.
A left-hander started it with a service winner before missing a backhand in the second point.
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Jannik forged a 2-1 advantage with a service winner and attacked on the return in the next one, forcing Shelton's mistake and delivering a mini-break for 3-1. The Italian produced another mini-break in the fifth point with a backhand down the line winner, moving closer to the finish line.
A forehand winner pushed world no. 1 5-1 in front, and he generated five match points with a service winner. Ben missed a backhand on the first, allowing his rival to clinch the breaker 7-1 and advance into the quarter-final.
Thus, Sinner extended his streak of quarter-finals in 2024, adding more points to his tally on the ATP Race list and almost securing the year-end no. 1 spot for the first time. Jannik will now face world no. 5 Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-final, battling against the Russian for the 14th time in the previous five years and seeking the seventh victory.
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Sinner scored a massive triumph over Medvedev in the Australian Open final this year, overcoming two sets to love deficit en route to his first Major title. The Italian stood too strong in Miami, dropping only three games and outplaying his rival completely.
Daniil responded in the Wimbledon quarter-final, taking down world no. 1 in five sets. Sinner did not feel well physically, taking a medical timeout but giving everything. He won the fourth set to force a decider before dropping it 6-3.
The Italian overpowered the Russian in four sets in the US Open quarter-final, leaving Daniil far behind in two sets and sealing the deal with a better performance in the fourth set.
