• Defending champion Jannik Sinner showcases superior form against Alex de Minaur, winning in straight sets.
• Sinner's victory leads to a semi-final clash with Ben Shelton, making waves in his first Australian Open semi-final.
• The match concluded in just 108 minutes, with Sinner dominating throughout.
• De Minaur, the local favorite, fell short in his attempt to become the first Australian man to win their home Grand Slam since 1976.

In a stunning performance at the 2025 Australian Open, defending champion Jannik Sinner decisively defeated local hope Alex de Minaur with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. The match, held at Rod Laver Arena, lasted just 108 minutes, with Sinner showcasing his dominance as he dashed home hopes for a local victory. Sinner's victory comes after previously battling illness, demonstrating his physical resilience and focus in this critical match.

As reported by Reuters, Sinner entered the quarter-finals against de Minaur without signs of his earlier health struggles. "I feel like today I was feeling everything," Sinner remarked, reflecting on his exceptional readiness for the match. The Italian broke de Minaur early in each set, displaying his skill in baseline rallies and continuous pressure on his opponent's serve.

De Minaur, who was making his mark in the tournament as the first Australian to reach the men’s quarter-finals since 2017, faced an uphill battle against Sinner, whom he had never defeated in their nine previous encounters. Despite the home crowd's support, de Minaur only managed to secure four winners in the first set, falling behind quickly. Each time he attempted to rally back, Sinner's skill and experience proved overwhelming.

In the long-awaited semi-final, Sinner will face 21st seed Ben Shelton, who advanced by defeating Lorenzo Sonego in a challenging match that lasted nearly four hours. This marks Shelton's first appearance in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, following an impressive journey through the tournament, as detailed by Al Jazeera. Sinner noted the challenges that Shelton presents, stating, "He is one of the best servers on tour... I am trying to stay focused and handle each serve well."

With this victory, Sinner has made history as the first Italian player, male or female, to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open on multiple occasions. His path to defend his title and possibly win a third Grand Slam is steadily becoming clearer, especially after avoiding the top competitors like Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev until potentially the finals, as emphasized in an analysis by The Guardian.

Related topics: Tennis