Jannik Sinner was all business in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over eighth-seeded Ben Shelton to extend his winning streak to 19 at Melbourne Park.
That’s the kind of run that only his semifinal opponent, Novak Djokovic, has topped at the Australian Open.
After the Djokovic benefited from Lorenzo Musetti’s untimely injury when up two sets to love. Sinner conceded he was lucky to still be in the tournament too, after struggling with cramps and staggering in his third-round match until the roof was closed and he went back on court reinvigorated.
Sinner’s third-round drama now seems like a distant memory after the two-time defending champion brushed aside the big-serving Shelton. It was his third win against the American in the past five Slams.
Carlos Alcaraz’s book by sliding a winner around the net post in the fourth game, going on to break Shelton for the first time.
He could not quite maintain the same level over the next two sets, but Sinner’s dominance was never in question and a fourth consecutive Slam final against Alcaraz is now looming large.
The top four seeds have reached the final four in the men’s draw, with No. 1 Alcaraz and No. 3 Alexander Zverev set to meet in the other semifinal.
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
