MELBOURNE, Australia — In a stunning display at the Australian Open quarterfinals, Ben Shelton triumphed over Lorenzo Sonego, who unleashed a jaw-dropping shot of the tournament—diving left for a spinning volley that tantalizingly bounced over the net, only to float back. Despite Sonego’s flair, it was the American who emerged victorious on Wednesday.
The charismatic left-hander Shelton stole the show with his antics, including a playful set of push-ups after a tumble during the nail-biting tiebreaker. At just 22 years old, he has now secured his second Grand Slam semifinal berth by besting the unseeded Sonego with a score of 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4).
“I feel a sense of relief,” shared Shelton, who is set to face top seed Jannik Sinner from Italy on Friday for a chance to reach the finals. “Hats off to Lorenzo Sonego; he showcased some incredible tennis.”
Sinner, the reigning champion at Melbourne Park, dominated the last Australian in the men’s bracket, No. 8 Alex de Minaur, with a decisive 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory under the lights.
“I’ve faced him so many times, and I’m no longer surprised by the same outcome,” remarked de Minaur, who now holds an unfortunate 0-10 record against Sinner. “Such matches happen.”
Looking rejuvenated, Sinner expressed that he performed much better than in the previous round, where he battled through a challenging four-set match against Holger Rune. After taking a much-needed rest on Tuesday, Sinner felt revitalized and ready to play.
“This was definitely my best match of the tournament so far,” Sinner stated, extending his unbeaten streak to 19 matches dating back to last season.
Shelton, ranked 21st, sealed the first set against Sonego with a sizzling 144 m.p.h. (232 km/h) ace, tying for the fastest serve in the tournament thus far. He showcased strength with a powerful forehand that wrapped up a lengthy 22-stroke point and resulted in a critical break. His supportive father, Bryan, also a former touring pro and Shelton’s coach, beamed with pride as his son flexed his left arm.
Near the end of the match, Shelton made a spectacular sprint for what seemed like an unreachable ball, crashing into a courtside advertising board just as Sonego scored an easy winner. The crowd roared with applause as he rose, showcasing his determination with a round of post-fall push-ups.
Finishing with a remarkable 26th forehand winner—his backhands went unutilized—Shelton flexed again with a cheeky grin that soon turned into an infectious smile.
During his press conference, Shelton candidly shared his thoughts about how some on-court post-match interviews are conducted.
Beyond his powerful serves and forehands, Shelton’s developing return game played a crucial role in propelling him to the final four of the Australian Open for the first time. Earning a total of 11 break points, he successfully converted three against Sonego, who is currently ranked 55th. Shelton entered the match with a remarkable 52% break chance conversion, the highest among the remaining men’s quarterfinalists.
Previously, Shelton faced a tough loss against Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the 2023 U.S. Open.
The other semifinal will feature Djokovic taking on No. 2 Alexander Zverev. Djokovic is on a relentless quest for his 11th Australian Open title and a historic 25th major trophy, having overcome a leg injury to defeat Carlos Alcaraz in a grueling quarterfinal match that ended shortly after 1 a.m.
This Thursday night, the women’s semifinals promise to be electrifying: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, will go against No. 11 Paula Badosa, while No. 2 Iga Swiatek faces No. 19 Madison Keys.
The excitement was palpable during the Shelton vs. Sonego match, as neither player had made it this far at a major before. Sonego impressively went 67-for-90 on net approaches, and his highlight-reel volley at the beginning of the second set had everyone buzzing. Even Shelton acknowledged the brilliance with a gracious handshake.
Another stunning moment was when Sonego managed a remarkable backward hook shot in the fourth set that resulted in a winner. However, the spotlight remains on Shelton, who will be continuing his journey in Melbourne this year.