Defending champion Jannik Sinner is again in the final of the Australian Open after the victory against Ben Shelton and will deal with Alexander Zverev there.
Sinner, number one in the world rankings, won 7: 6, 6: 2, 6: 2 after 2:36 hours.
Sinner in the final against Zverev – number one against number two
Sinner now meets Alexander Zverev in the final of Melbourne on Sunday (9.30 a.m./CET), this leads to a duel between the two top seed players in the tournament and the two toppages in the world rankings.
“We had very tight matches in the past. Everything can happen and the tension will be very high“, said Sinner:”But I am very happy that I got back to this position.“
Sinner, who dominated large parts of the season last year, wants his third in Melbourne Grand Slam-Title win. Unlike Zverev, the world ranking list has both of his previous ones major-Finale decided.
Sinner with problems against Shelton, but nervous
Sinner launched against Shelton, and he seemed to have increasingly physical problems in the course of the match. Shelton brought the Italian out of the concept with his variable game and grabbed two breaks. But Sinner was able to rely on his nerve strength, fought off several set balls and won a passage in which he had never looked like the better player.
Subsequently, the resistance of 22-year-old Shelton seemed broken, the American also acted to impetuously in the crucial balls and thus gave some chances of possible breaks. From now on, Sinner pulled his game. Shelton still caused a laugh when he explained that a bird had done his business over the pitch – and had the excrement removed with a towel.
The American had only reached the semi-finals at a Grand Slam for the second time. Sinner, like Zverev, came through the tournament relatively smoothly. After several treatments, including a weakness in the round of 16, the question of his fitness is now asking itself before the final.