Australian Open, Day 11 Highlights: Sinner sets up Djokovic semi-final clash

Jannik Sinner cruised past Ben Shelton in the end with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The Italian looked to be in full control of the contest throughout and while Shelton did test him the third set, the Italian makes his way to another semi-final. Next up, another battle with Novak Djokovic. 

That looks to be the turning point that Sinner was hoping for as he breaks Shelton. He takes 5-4 lead and is serving for the game and an entry into the semi-finals. 

The third set has been a more testing one for Sinner with Shelton continuing to push him in the match. The Italian continues to hold the edge in the contest but it is getting a bit more tougher from the American's side. 

Score: Sinner leads 6-3, 6-4, 3-3

It is just not working out for Ben Shelton tonight. He is taking risks, he is giving his best, but he is simply not at Sinner's level yet.

He is unable to break Sinner, and the Italian takes the second set 6-4 inside an hour and 45 minutes. This might end in straight sets ladies and gentlemen.

Ben Shelton really levelled up against Sinner but he was not able to capitalise on his good shots.

It was duece (40-40) thrice in Sinner's service game but eventually the Italian survives a potential break.

The second set of the match has not changed much. The sheer power on Sinner's shots are troubling Ben Shelton.

Sinner has already broken Shelton once and is leading 2-1 in the second set.

Shelton has just lifted his level and has been targetting the baseline more often. Sinner is struggling to control the pace on those shots and has conceded a couple of points to Shelton while serving in the 4th game of the set.

Jannik Sinner wrapped up the opening set 6‑3 against Ben Shelton in just 49 minutes. After taking an early break to move 3‑1 up, Sinner became virtually unstoppable, dictating play from the baseline.

The Italian has now won 20 consecutive sets against Shelton, leaving the American with a tough task ahead. Shelton will need to raise his level significantly if he hopes to mount any sort of comeback in the second set.

Sinner has surged to a 5‑2 lead in the first set and is just one game away from wrapping it up against Shelton. While Shelton has flashed moments of brilliance, Sinner’s dominant play hasn’t given him a moment to relax. The American will need something special to halt this momentum and stay in the set. The pressure is mounting with every point.

Shelton has held serve this time! Sinner pushed him hard, taking the sixth game all the way to deuce, but Shelton held his nerve under pressure.

Still, Sinner remains a break up in the first set, and Shelton will need to fight back if he wants to stay alive in this opening set. Can he find the momentum to turn things around? The tension on court is palpable.

And there it is!

Jannik Sinner strikes first, taking the early initiative in this quarterfinal clash.

The Italian moves 3‑1 up in the opening set after claiming his first break of serve. Shelton showed some resistance, saving two break points, but Sinner stayed calm and converted on the third chance, closing out the game with authority.

The question now: how will Shelton respond to this early setback? The momentum firmly rests with Sinner at the moment.

Ben Shelton has made a lively start, striking the ball cleanly and already firing five winners, outpacing Jannik Sinner’s three at this stage.

The scoreboard reads 1-1, with Sinner taking his time to settle into a rhythm, absorbing the early pressure and feeling his way into the contest as Shelton looks to seize the early initiative.

Jannik Sinner has won his last 19 sets against Ben Shelton, underlining an extraordinary level of dominance over the American. The Italian has looked largely untouchable in this Australian Open, dropping just one set so far—against fellow American Eliot Spizzirri in the third round.

That small chink in the armour may offer Shelton a sliver of belief, but Sinner’s recent record suggests he will not give anything away easily as the quarterfinal unfolds.

Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton have now stepped out onto the court for their quarterfinal clash, with the spotlight firmly on the Italian. Sinner walks in as the clear favourite, having dominated the recent history between the two by winning their last eight encounters.

Beyond tonight’s contest, there is an even bigger narrative at play—Sinner stands just three victories away from completing a remarkable hat-trick of Australian Open titles, adding extra weight to every point played under the Melbourne lights.

In case you have missed the Musetti vs Djokovic quarter-final that ended under dramatic circumstances.

You can read the match report here before the highlights arrive.

Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire injured against Novak Djokovic despite being firmly in control, leading 6-4, 6-4, 1-3 in the men’s singles quarter-final.

Dominant for most of the clash, Musetti’s body gave way at the worst possible moment.

Here’s the instant he knew he couldn’t continue.

“I played really well throughout the tournament until today. Today I’m definitely not happy with my performance, but it’s another day in the office. Hopefully, in a couple of days’ time, I can come out and be at my best, because that’s what’s going to be needed.”

Stay tuned for the match report and other reactions.

Also, Jannik Sinner's match starts at 1:30 PM.

Djokovic speaks about his own injury, which might get worse in the next round

“I tried my best, really. I can’t complain. A blister here and there, nothing that really bothered me. I just wasn’t feeling the ball today in the first couple of sets, but that’s also because of his quality and the variety in his game.

“I’m just extremely lucky to get through this one today.”

“The (aggressive) strategy worked very well for the first couple of games, and then it completely changed. I had four winners in the first two games, and then for the rest of the match I had another four winners and probably 40 errors.

“That’s what Lorenzo does to you. He makes you play. When you think the point is finished, it’s not. In windy, swirly conditions, when you attack him, you don’t know what to expect — whether it’s a passing shot, a cross-court ball, a short slice, a flat shot into your body, or a looping ball to my weakest shot, which is the overhead. I think we saw that again today.”

“First of all, I don’t know what to say except that I feel really sorry for him. He was the better player today. I was basically on my way home tonight.

“This kind of thing has happened to me a few times, but to be in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, two sets to love up and in full control, it’s just so unfortunate. I really wish him a speedy recovery. He should have been the winner today, no doubt.”