Ben Shelton got the better of Lorenzo Sonego in a scintillating Australian Open quarter-final.
Shelton was knocked out in the quarter-finals in 2023, but he ensured he would go at least one better this time as he prevailed 6-4 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7-4).
Both Shelton and Sonego pulled out all the stops to the delight of the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.
An incredible diving volley from Sonego in the first game of the second set, to save break point, was a standout, as was a diving lunge from Shelton during the tie-break.
Yet Shelton recovered with some sensational serves to close out the match and cap off his remarkable run.
"I feel relieved right now. Shout out Lorenzo Sonego, that was some ridiculous tennis," the American said.
"This was one of the favourite matches of my career."
2 - Since 1988, Ben Shelton is one of the two left-handed players to have reached the semi-finals of both hard-court Men’s Singles Grand Slams along with Rafael Nadal. Rare. #AO2025 | @AustralianOpen @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/rmjI7vuji8
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 22, 2025
Data Debrief: Shelton emulates Nadal
Since 1988, when the Australian Open moved to Melbourne Park, Shelton is just the second left-handed player to reach the semi-finals of both hard court grand slams, after the great Rafael Nadal.
He is also the youngest left-handed player to reach the Australian Open semi-finals since Nadal back in 2008.
In fact, the 22-year-old is the youngest player to reach the semi-finals at Melbourne Park since Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2019.
