Jannik Sinner, the defending champion at the Australian Open, has been preparing meticulously for his upcoming match against American left-hander Ben Shelton. To get ready for the unique challenges posed by Shelton’s powerful left-handed serve, Sinner trained with fellow left-hander Alex Bolt. This strategic decision was aimed at familiarizing Sinner with the different angles and spins that a left-handed opponent can produce on the court.

Sinner’s coach, Simone Vagnozzi, emphasized the importance of this training, noting that Shelton’s serve trajectories are particularly tricky to handle. By practicing with Bolt, Sinner hoped to gain valuable insights and improve his ability to read and respond to Shelton’s serves effectively. The training sessions focused on enhancing Sinner’s anticipation and footwork, crucial elements for countering a left-handed player’s game.

As Sinner gears up for the semifinals, his preparation with Bolt is expected to give him a competitive edge. The Italian star has shown remarkable growth and adaptability throughout the tournament, and his ability to learn from each match has been a key factor in his success. With the guidance of his experienced coaching team and the specialized training with Bolt, Sinner is poised to take on Shelton with confidence and determination.

The upcoming match promises to be an exciting clash of styles, with Sinner’s precision and tactical acumen pitted against Shelton’s raw power and serve. Fans are eagerly anticipating a thrilling contest as Sinner continues his quest for a second consecutive Australian Open title.

Sinner at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2025

Currently the world no.1, the Italian has a composed 5-0 match record in 2025. Jannik is now playing at the Australian Open where he toppled the world no.36 Nicolas Jarry 7-6(2) 7-6(5) 6-1, the world no.173 Tristan Schoolkate 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-3, the world no.46 Marcos Giron 6-3 6-4 6-2

, the world no.13 Holger Rune 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-2 and the world no.8 Alex De Minaur 6-3 6-2 6-1.

Jannik Sinner will come up against the world no.20 Ben Shelton in the semifinal. Their actual head to head record is 4-1 for Sinner.

Sinner won 19 titles in his career: 9 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 8 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

He is also scheduled to play in Rotterdam (ABN AMRO Open) on the 3rd of February and Doha (Qatar ExxonMobil Open) on the 17th of February.

Shelton at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2025

Currently the world no.20, Shelton achieved a 5-1 win-loss record in 2025. Shelton is now playing at the Australian Open where he managed to beat the world no.35 Brandon Nakashima 7-6(3) 7-5 7-5, the world no.182 Pablo Carreno-Busta 6-3 6-3 6-7(4) 6-4, the world no.15 Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 3-6 6-4 7-6(5), the world no.41 Gael Monfils 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 1-0 ret. and the world no.55 Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 7-5 4-6 7-6(4).

Ben Shelton will square off with the world no.1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinal. The head to head is 4-1 for Sinner.

He is also scheduled to play in Dallas (Dallas Open). The main draw will start on the 3rd of February.

Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton fought against each other 5 times. Their head to head is 4-1 for Sinner.