The 21st seed Ben Shelton is through to his second Major semi-final at the Australian Open, the first in Melbourne. The young American ousted Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 in three hours and 50 minutes, remaining on the title course.
At 22, Ben became the youngest American in the Australian Open semi-final since Andy Roddick in 2023. A left-hander will face world no. 1 Jannik Sinner or Alex de Minaur in Friday's semi-final, hoping to extend his run.
Ben took 12 points more than Lorenzo after playing a bit better behind the first and second serve. Shelton landed 54 winners and 33 unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and outplaying the rival's 63-55 ratio. Sonego fired more winners and rushed to the net 90 times.
However, he lost the pivotal points and ended his campaign in the quarter-final. The Italian created eight break points and delivered two breaks. The American generated 11 chances and seized three, keeping his composure in the tie break and moving over the top.
Sonego built a slight edge in the mid-range rallies. Shelton erased the deficit in the shortest ones, earning the win in that segment. The match started with five comfortable holds. The American struggled in the sixth game, playing against three break points and defending them.
The young gun held at love in game eight and made a push on the return in the next one. Ben seized the third break point after the rival's forehand error, earning a break and moving 5-4 up. A left-hander served for the set in game ten and earned three set points with a forehand winner.
The 21st seed landed an ace on the first, taking the opener 6-4 in 47 minutes. The Italian struggled in his games in the first half of the second set. He saved two break points in the first game and another at 2-2. Shelton kept the pressure on his opponent.
The American stepped in on the return at 3-3. Hepainted a forehand down the line winner after an entertaining rally for a 4-3 lead. Ben held at love for 5-3 and served for the set in game ten. Lorenzo found the rhythm on the return at the last moment.
He grabbed a break after Shelton's forehand error, locking the result at 5-5. However, the Italian suffered another break after a forehand error, sending his rival 6-5 in front. The young gun served for the set in game 12 and created a set point with a smash winner.
Ben drew Lorenzo's mistake, wrapping up the set 6-4 and moving two sets to love in front after an hour and 59 minutes. They served well in the opening nine games of the third set, with the servers losing only a couple of points.
Sonego stepped in on the return at 5-4. A left-hander squandered four game points and fell on the second set point after a loose forehand, allowing his rival to reduce the gap after two hours and 38 minutes. Ben struggled on serve in the sixth game of the fourth set.
He saved a break point and held after deuces to remain on the positive side. Lorenzo faced the ultimate challenge in the 11th game. The Italian denied two break points and held to keep himself alive. Shelton served well in the 12th game and introduced a tie break.
They traded four mini-breaks in a row and stayed locked at 3-3. The young gun fired a forehand winner in the seventh point to move in front. Sonego missed a volley in the ninth point and sent his rival 5-4 in front. Shelton landed a service winner for 6-4 and two match points.
He fired a powerful forehand on the first, sealing the deal and reaching his second Major semi-final at 22.
