Ben Shelton defeated Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) on Wednesday, securing his first Australian Open 2025 semi-final. The 21st-seeded American, known for his powerful serve, will now face either defending champion Jannik Sinner or Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the next round. In the first two sets, Shelton dominated with his big serve, putting pressure on Sonego. Although the Italian fought hard, he struggled to break Shelton’s serve.

Sonego Fights Back

However, Sonego wasn’t done yet. He claimed the third set with a late break, showing resilience. Despite this, Shelton regained control in the fourth set and won it in a tense tiebreak.

Shelton Reflects on His Performance

“I’m relieved right now,” Shelton said after the win. He also recorded the joint-fastest serve of the tournament, clocked at 232kph (144mph). “Shout-out to Lorenzo because that was some ridiculous tennis,” he added. This victory marks Shelton's second Grand Slam semi-final after his run to the 2023 US Open semifinals.

Key Moments During the Match

In the first set, Shelton saved three break points and managed to break Sonego to take the lead. He sealed the set with a powerful ace. Meanwhile, Sonego displayed incredible skill by diving full-length for a drop volley to save a break point, earning applause from both Shelton and the crowd. Shelton closed out the match in the fourth set, securing a tiebreak win after a hard-fought battle, ending the match in 3 hours and 50 minutes.

Sonego’s Impressive Run

Sonego, 29, had a strong run in the tournament. He beat former champion Stan Wawrinka in the first round and upset young talent Joao Fonseca in a five-set thriller. He also defeated Learner Tien, who had beaten Daniil Medvedev, in the fourth round. Now, Shelton will look to continue his impressive run and secure a spot in the final.