Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Australian Open 2025

Match Details

Fixture: (1) Jannik Sinner vs (21) Ben Shelton

Date: January 24, 2025

Tournament: Australian Open 2025

Round: Semifinal

Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia

Category: Grand Slam

Surface: Hard (outdoor)

Prize Money: A$96,500,000

Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel, ESPN | UK - Eurosport | Canada - TSN, RDS

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Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton preview

Jannik Sinner hits a backhand at Australian Open 2025

Defending champion Jannik Sinner will take on 21st-seed Ben Shelton for a place in the final of the 2025 Australian Open on Friday (January 24).

Sinner has endured a difficult campaign in Melbourne this fortnight. After weathering tough challenges from Nicolas Jarry and Tristan Schoolkate, respectively, in his first two matches, the Italian had a relatively easier straight-set outing against his third-round opponent. Marcos Giron.

The top seed was then taken to the limit by the 13th-seeded Holger Rune in the Round of 16. While the top seed was able to beat the Dane 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in over three hours, he didn't seem to be doing too well under the scorching sun, casting doubts on his prospects of defending his 2024 crown.

Sinner, however, shut down his detractors in style on Wednesday (January 22), beating eighth-seeded Alex De Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the last four in Melbourne. The World No. 1 will be eager to win his third career Major title later this week.

Shelton, meanwhile, has also been made to toil at this year's Australian Open. The American needed four sets in his last four matches to dispatch top-quality players like Gael Monfils, Lorenzo Musetti, Pablo Carreno Busta and Lorenzo Sonego en route to his second semifinal at a Grand Slam tournament.

The World No. 20 first announced himself to the tennis world at the Happy Slam two years ago. Playing the main draw of a Major for only the second time in his career, the then-teenager reached the quarterfinals of the tournament against all odds.

He went one better at the US Open a few months later by making it to the last four, where he was denied by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

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Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton head-to-head

Sinner leads Shelton by a large margin of 4-1 in their head-to-head meetings on the ATP Tour. The American first beat the Italian in three sets at the 2023 Shanghai Masters. The World No. 1 has reversed the script on his younger rival since then, though, defeating him without the loss of a single set in their last four matches.

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Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games (Over/Under)
Jannik Sinner
Ben Shelton

(Odds will be updated once available)

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Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton prediction

Ben Shelton tracks down a ball during his QF match in Melbourne

While Jannik Sinner's physical conditioning has been somewhat compromised this year, his groundstrokes are still as impenetrable as ever. The World No. 1 has shown some immaculate shot selection against tough opponents, with his down-the-line backhand screamer having been his biggest weapon thus far.

Shelton, meanwhile, has markedly different shot mechanics and likes to take huge cuts on the ball to impart topspin. Aside from his booming serve, the American is also quite adept at the net. Having said that, while the 22-year-old's groundstrokes tend to be deep, they might fall right in Sinner's strike zone, as the latter likes taking the ball early off the ground.

Therefore, this cross-edged match-up will come down to whether the World No. 20 can mix up his shotmaking and depth to upset his higher-ranked opponent's rhythm. If the top seed displays the same form that he did in his straight-sets beatdown of De Minaur, he is likely to make it to his third-career Major final in Melbourne later this week.

Pick: Sinner to win in straight sets.