Italy’s defending champion Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday, defeating eighth seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to secure his spot in the Australian Open semifinals.
Sinner, who made his Grand Slam breakthrough at last year’s Melbourne Park tournament, will now face American 21st seed Ben Shelton in the upcoming semifinal match. With his sights set on claiming a third major title, following his U.S. Open victory in September, Sinner aims to continue his impressive form.
The match at the packed Rod Laver Arena was a testament to Sinner’s skill and determination. He broke de Minaur early in each set, establishing a clear advantage that proved insurmountable for the Australian. Despite the loss, de Minaur earned a standing ovation from the crowd for his valiant effort, marking Australia's longest wait for a homegrown men's singles champion since Mark Edmondson's triumph in 1976.
Reflecting on his performance, Sinner remarked, \"I feel like today I was feeling everything. When you break so early in each set it's a bit easier. But he's a tough competitor, an amazing player. So many people came here for him tonight, but it was an amazing atmosphere.\"
Having faced Sinner ten times before, de Minaur had hoped for a maiden victory to end Australia’s 49-year wait, but Sinner’s flawless serving and relentless baseline hitting ensured a swift conclusion to the match.
Sinner showed no signs of the illness that affected his previous match, attributing his strong performance to a good practice session with his coaches and ample rest. \"They gave me a good rhythm. I feel when you're young, you recover fast. It's a bit different. I really like to sleep, so I rested in the best possible way to recover and try to be ready,\" he added.
Reference(s):
Sublime Sinner stops De Minaur and reaches Australian Open semifinals
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