Shelton wins 2025 AO quarter final

2025 Australian Open - Men’s Singles Day 11 (1)

2025 Australian Open, first Grand Slam tournament of the year, on Hard Outdoor, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12-26 January 2025.

Defending champion:

Jannik Sinner (4) who defeated Daniil Medvedev (3) 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6

Quarter final 1:

Ben Shelton (21) (USA) v Lorenzo Sonego (Italy)

1-1 head to head

Sonego won more recently, but on a clay court.

Shelton won on a hard court in Cincinnati 2022.

First quarter final at any major for Sonego.

Second quarter final at AO for Shelton.

First five games went with serve and no drama.

In game six, Shelton saved three break points, but held.

Score was 3-3.

Sonego served at 4-4 and was broken - he trailed 4-5.

Shelton served out the set 6-4

In the opening game of set two, Sonego visited deuce five times, and saved two break points.

He held for 1-0.

Sonego saved another break point in game five and held for 3-2,

Shelton broke in game seven to lead 4-3.

Serving for the set at 5-4, Shelton was broken.

Sonego was broken in the following game and trailed 5-6.

Shelton served out the set 7-5.

No threats on serve for nine games of set three.

Out of the blue, Shelton let a 40-0 lead disappear when serving at 4-5.

He saved a set point, then wasted a game point.

Sonego converted the next break point that arrived, and he amazingly took the set 6-4

Shelton saved a break point in game six of set four.

He held for 3-3.

Sonego saved two break points when serving at 5-5, and held.

Shelton held serve and forced a tie break.

Ben Shelton won the tie break and the match 6-4 7-5 4-6 7-6(4).

This means Shelton makes his first Australian Open semi final.

And it’s his second Grand Slam tournament semi final, following the 2023:US Open