Ben Shelton defeats Lorenzo Sonego, reaches Australian Open semifinal

Ben Shelton reached his first Australian Open semi-final after defeating Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in a challenging four-set match, with scores of 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4). The 22-year-old American showcased his powerful serve and resilience, ultimately prevailing in a tense fourth-set tiebreak. This marks Shelton's second career Grand Slam semi-final, following his run at the 2023 US Open. He expressed relief and praised Sonego's performance, stating it was one of his favorite matches. Shelton now awaits either defending champion Jannik Sinner or local favorite Alex de Minaur in the semi-finals. Both players capitalized on an open draw, as several top seeds were eliminated early in the tournament.