Title: Can Ben Shelton Dethrone Jannik Sinner's Unbeaten Streak Against American Players in Majors?
Under the glaring Australian Open spotlight, titan Jannik Sinner stands firm as an unbeaten force against American opponents in major tournaments, boasting an impressive 14-0 record. The question on every tennis enthusiast's lips is: Can No. 21 Ben Shelton crack this daunting streak?
Shelton, the powerful left-handed servemaster from Atlanta, prepares to meet Sinner in the semifinals on Friday. Top analysts predict a tense battle, stating that Shelton needs to serve extraordinarily well to make any inroads into Sinner's stronghold. "He's yet to drop more than 20 aces in a match," Brad Gilbert, ESPN's expert, asserted. "If he's aiming for a 25-ace performance, he might have a chance against Sinner," he added.
As of now, Sinner tops the odds with a staggering -1667 betting favorite rating, per betting site bookmaker.eu, while Novak Djokovic, the 24-time major champ, holds a slight -169 edge over Alexander Zverev in the other semifinal contest.
Ben Shelton made his presence felt in his quarterfinal clash against Italian Lorenzo Sonego, blasting nine aces and hitting 54 winners, securing the victory 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(6). This victory propelled Shelton into his second major semifinals, following his impressive performance at the U.S. Open in 2023.
Former world No. 4 James Blake offered strategic insights on how Shelton should approach defeating the relentless Sinner. "He must flex his versatility," Blake advised. "Mixing up his service attack is crucial; Sinner might anticipate Shelton's 144mph serves, but varying the attack with sliders, kickers, and strategically placed serves will keep Sinner off balance and improve his chances of holding serve."
Sinner ruled the show by mercilessly crushing No. 8 Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, lengthening his streak to 12 straight victories in Melbourne. De Minaur now stands at a discouraging 2-11 against Top 10 players in major events.
ESPN's Rennae Stubbs shared her admiration for Sinner, calling him "an unending machine" during his Melbourne charge. "Nobody seems to find a weakness in his game," she said.
Shelton leads Sinner 1-5 in their head-to-head records, having dropped nine straight sets to the Italian star. Their last meeting took place in the fourth round of Wimbledon last year, with Sinner emerging victorious 6-2, 6-4, 7-6.
Shelton admitted his poor serving performance during his quarterfinals, revealing a need to optimize his first-serve percentage and employ different types of serves to counter Sinner's prowess.
Shelton's journey to the Australian Open semifinals marks the 25th such achievement by an American man in the Open Era. The American hopes to follow in the footsteps of Taylor Fritz, who lost to Sinner in the U.S. Open final and Andy Roddick, who secured a major title at the 2003 U.S. Open.
If Shelton manages to pull off an upset, he would become one of three Americans in the Top 10 ranking, alongside Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
Ben Shelton, however, expressed his frustration at the treatment of players by some Australian announcers. Specifically, he mentioned a Channel 9 announcer's mockery of Novak Djokovic and his fans, which prompted Djokovic to skip a post-match interview with Jim Courier. Shelton lambasted the event as "embarrassing" and "disrespectful," adding that one interviewer even made an inappropriate comment regarding Gael Monfils' age.
"Broadcasters should help players grow our sport and celebrate their achievements," Shelton said, calling for a respectful environment for players during their major moments.
In the realm of sports, Ben Shelton's impressive victory against Lorenzo Sonega in the Australian Open quarterfinals showcased his business-like approach, earning him significant sportsmoney from his sponsors. With his semifinals match against Jannik Sinner approaching, Shelton is under immense pressure to improve his serving statistics and outsmart the reigning force.
Should Ben Shelton defy the odds and triumph over Jannik Sinner, his victory would not only boost his sportsmoney earnings but also propel him into the elite circle of top-ranked American tennis players, following the footsteps of Taylor Fritz and Andy Roddick. However, Shelton has expressed his discontent with certain Australian announcers, calling for a more respectful environment during major events to celebrate the achievements of players and grow the sport.
