(Photo credit score: Mike Frey-Imagn Images)
Ben Shelton, a 22-year-old Atlanta native, is thru to his first profession Australian Open semifinal after defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4) on Wednesday in Melbourne.
Shelton has competed in just one earlier Grand Slam semifinal, when he misplaced to eventual champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia on the 2023 U.S. Open.
On Wednesday, Shelton prevailed by enjoying a steadier floor sport than his opponent. Sonego completed with a slight edge in winners, 63-54, however he dedicated way more unforced errors, 55-33.
“I feel relieved right now, shoutout to Lorenzo Sonego because that was some ridiculous tennis,” Shelton mentioned postmatch on the courtroom. “I’m just really happy to be through, to get my first win on Rod Laver Arena. Thanks everybody for coming out, it was one of my favorite matches of my career.”
The occasion’s twenty first seed, Shelton has met only one seeded participant within the present fortnight, when he downed No. 16 Lorenzo Musetti of Italy within the third spherical. His semifinal foe would be the winner of the final quarterfinal on Wednesday: reigning champion and high seed Jannik Sinner of Italy vs. No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia.
Shelton instructed the group concerning his potential Friday foe, “If it’s the home favorite Alex de Minaur, you guys can boo me, throw stuff at my head. I understand. If it’s the No. 1 in the world, it’ll probably be the same, so I’m looking forward to it. I know I got a few in the crowd who are going to be pulling for me, too.”
Shelton owns simply two ATP match titles, each in comparatively minor occasions: the 2023 Japan Open in Tokyo and the 2024 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston. Last yr, he failed to achieve the quarterfinals in all 4 Grand Slam tournaments.
–Field Level Media