Ben Shelton has the instruments to unlock the video games of many high gamers. However in terms of Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the code is close to not possible to crack.
Sinner continued his domination of the American southpaw on Day 11, stretching his run of consecutive units gained in opposition to Shelton to 22 as he scored a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory to earn his seventeenth consecutive Australian Open match win.
The 24-year-old Italian, who will face Novak Djokovic within the semifinals, turns into the fifth participant in Open Period historical past to achieve six consecutive Grand Slam semifinals. He claimed his ninth consecutive victory over Shelton, and stretched his present profitable streak, which dates again to the start of his run to the Vienna title final fall, to twenty.
The No.2 seed saved his unforced errors low and transformed a break in every of the primary two units to take a commanding lead. After breaking for 3-1 in set one, he threatened to take a double-break lead within the fifth recreation, however Shelton held his floor by saving three break factors.
To not fear, Sinner gained his remaining 14 service factors of the set, by no means giving Shelton an opportunity to attract degree.
Sinner broke for 2-1 in set two then saved three break factors to carry for 3-1. That was sufficient to wrap the second set.
Shelton managed to take Sinner to a tiebreak within the opening set once they met within the Australian Open semifinals final 12 months, and he turned up the warmth within the third set in an try to put a dent within the Italian’s domination. He was defiant at 2-2, 15-40, reeling off 4 consecutive factors to carry for 3-2.
The third set was Shelton’s better of the evening, however he let issues slip away whereas serving at 4-4. Down 0-40 he saved a primary break level however double-faulted on the following to present Sinner an opportunity to serve out a straight units win.
The Italian stayed on script and put the match away, changing his first match level on the two hour and 23-minute mark.
Sinner has a five-match profitable streak in opposition to Novak Djokovic, together with straight set wins at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon final 12 months. Even 24-time main champions can’t appear to crack the Italian’s code.
