Fri Jan 24 20:45:32 UTC 2025: ## Sinner Cruises into Australian Open Final, Set for Title Defence
**Melbourne, Australia** – World number one Jannik Sinner has secured his place in the Australian Open men’s singles final for the second consecutive year, defeating American Ben Shelton in straight sets, 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2. The match, played at Rod Laver Arena on Friday, saw Sinner overcome a challenging first set before dominating the latter stages of the encounter.
Shelton, the 21st seed, started strong, breaking Sinner’s serve in the opening game and showcasing his powerful serve. He even held two set points, but Sinner fought back, forcing a tiebreak which he decisively won 7-2.
From there, Sinner took control. He broke Shelton’s serve twice in the second set and only conceded one point on his first serve, winning 6-2. The third set saw Sinner’s dominance continue, winning 100% of net points and converting both break points to secure the victory.
“It was a very tough first set but a very crucial one,” Sinner commented post-match. He noted that both players returned serves better than they served, highlighting the intense baseline rallies. He expressed satisfaction with his ability to manage the pressure of the match.
On Sunday, Sinner will face first-time finalist Alexander Zverev in the final. A victory would see Sinner join an elite group of players – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andre Agassi – in successfully defending their Australian Open title in the 21st century.
First Piper 