Australian Open 2025 as it happened: Sinner’s straight-sets glory; ‘I get why fans booed’, injured Djoker says

Jannik Sinner can join the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as a back-to-back Australian Open men’s singles champion on Sunday night after advancing to another final.

Italy’s world No.1 had an uncharacteristically tardy start, staved off two set points in the first, and even suffered from cramping before completing a 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, 6-2 victory over American Ben Shelton.

Jannik Sinner had his moments of worry in his semi-final against Ben Shelton.Credit: Eddie Jim

It was not a signature Sinner performance like 12 months ago when he dispatched 10-time winner Djokovic in the semi-finals, but he still advanced to face German Alex Zverev.

The last time the Open’s top two men’s seeds met was Djokovic’s straight-sets demolition of Rafael Nadal six years ago.

“[There was] a lot of tension today, slightly cramps, but he was also suffering today a little bit in his legs,” Sinner said.

“I tried to move him around, [and] stay a little bit more aggressive, which today helped a lot.

“These matches can go very, very long. For three sets, two-and-a-half hours is quite a time … [but] I’m very happy to be back in the finals, and then we see what is coming on Sunday.”

There was drama during the third set as the explosive Shelton’s level soared again and Sinner’s legs were visibly wobbling at the other end.

Three break points came and went across Sinner’s opening two service games, and his cramping worsened in the fifth game as Shelton tried to edge 3-2 ahead.

But the American double-faulted, then dumped a forehand into the net to give Sinner the lead for good as the Italian breezed to the finish line.

Shelton had his chances, twice being up a break in a 71-minute opening set where his hyper-aggressive approach rattled his rival on occasion.

The problem was that the unforced errors began to flow, and he already had 27 by the end of the first set, including five in the tie-breaker.

“It was a very tough first set, but a very crucial one,” Sinner said.

“The first set is always very important. There was a lot of tension for both of us, and I’m very happy how I handled the situation today.”

That’s all we have for you tonight.

Thanks so much for joining us. Please come back tomorrow evening as we bring you all the major moments and post-match reactions from the women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Bye for now.

Jannik Sinner is the top player in the world and chasing a second-straight Australian Open title but he still has improvement to go.

He was asked tonight about how well he has played since moving into the top spot last year.

Jannik Sinner.Credit: AP

“Obviously it’s a great position to be in but [in the] back of my head I also know that I’m 23 years old, and I am not perfect, no?” Sinner said.

“I know that I have things still to improve. I have certain areas where I can get better. That’s why we work for, no?

“As I said before, every day is a big challenge. Every day you have a different opponent. You try to understand what’s happening. Sometimes you have some issues and then [it’s about] trying to understand that whatever works best for that day and trying to go for it, no?

“Everyone makes mistakes … nobody’s perfect. Yeah, that’s it.”

Ben Shelton admits he missed some chances, but he hopes to build on his success at the Australian Open.

The American made his first semi-final at Melbourne Park and will improve his ranking into the top 15.

Ben Shelton.Credit: Eddie Jim

“Sinner, Alcaraz, Novak, the guys who have been dominating in the slams over the last two years, since I’ve been on tour,” Shelton said.

“On their bad days they’re still winning in three sets, winning in four sets. They figure it out.

“I’m getting closer to being able to do that. Not having a good serving day or serving week and having a great tournament is a huge positive for me. It’s like being able to recognise the flaws in what I did, in my game, against some of these guys, [and] being able to go back to the drawing board. It gives me a lot of confidence.

“I’m disappointed because I wanted to see where this match ended up. I win that first set, and kind of get into the depths of it, deep in the fourth or the fifth, which should have been possible with where I was at in the first set, serving with set points.

“Next time I’m out there with set points, I’m going to hit the ace.”

“Novak, are you finally going to let me win a slam, myself?”

This was the question Alexander Zverev asked Novak Djokovic in a recently filmed ATP special feature in which the super Serb answered his tennis star peers.

Now an injured Djokovic has withdrawn from his Australian Open semi-final clash with Zverev and the German world No.2 has been gifted a spot in the grand slam final.

A dejected Djokovic said after the match he’d support Zverev in the final.

But in the ATP video, before a torn muscle halted his chase for a 25th title, a laughing Djokovic had predicted he’d be around for a long time yet.

“Come on guys! I don’t know what to say,” he said.

“I’m going to have to disappoint all of you, because you’re going to see quite a bit of me in the next several years. I have big plans – I have still a lot to win.”

A few years back there was a bit of tension around Sinner’s decision to bring in a second coach along with Aussie Darren Cahill.

But now he is top of the world, the decision has proven correct and Sinner’s team is seen as being among the best in the sport.

Darren Cahill (R), coach of Jannik Sinner of Italy.Credit: Getty Images

Sinner took the chance to have a dig at his coaches tonight.

“I think every coach I went through, there is, you know, a huge amount of work we have done,” Sinner told Jim Courier.

“You know, there was a tough moment to change but now I have an incredible team right there. You know, they raised me a different player.

“I think every coach has his own, you know, department where he is good and I have two very different coaches. Simone Vagnozzi is very tactical. He was ranked 161 [as a player] and Darren was around 30 so it is a bit difference but - (LAUGHTER)....

Courier: That hurts. Dig yourself out of this hole young man.

“He always said, even when he played, his goal was to be a coach. And I have to say he is a very, very good coach. He is an amazing coach.

“We are not only a team who worked together on the court but we are more like a family also off the court, which is amazing to have them. Darren is making his last season this year as a coach and I’m happy that we have again a chance to fight for the title. Very, very happy. And the season is still very long but it means a lot to me to make it happen here. And I don’t want to forget my physio and physical trainer. Because if not, they get very offended. So the whole team is amazing. But the work still continues. I’m 23 so let’s see what is coming.”

Sinner has described his legs as having “some cramps” this evening.

“I had some tension today, slightly cramps,” Sinner told Jim Courier post match.

“But he was also suffering today a little bit in his legs. So I tried to move him around, tried to stay a little bit more aggressive which today helped a lot. Yeah, you know, these matches can go very, very long, you know, for three sets.

“Two and a half hours is quite a time. So happy to finish today in three. But, you know, as I said, I’m very happy to be back in the finals and then we see what is coming Sunday.”

Sinner and Shelton spoke at the net and shared a hug. There is a fair chance they will have more meetings like this in the future.

Italian fans are celebrating around the Melbourne Park precinct while Sinner raised his racquet to acknowledge the crowd.

The question will be how bad those cramps were and whether he can replenish himself enough to beat Zverev who looks to be at the top of his game, played only 81 minutes today and will be playing at night which is his favoured time slot.

Jannik Sinner.Credit: Getty Images

No.1 seed Jannik Sinner will face No.2 seed Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open men’s final.

The reigning champion returned to the decider with a straight-sets win over Ben Shelton this evening and his win came despite a late attack of leg cramps.

Sinner won 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a little over two and a half hours on court.

Jannik Sinner.Credit: Eddie Jim

Sinner has done it again.

He has a 5-2 lead and will serve for the match after Shelton imploded in his latest service game.

Jannik Sinner.Credit: Getty Images

The American had a double-fault on break point.

Now Sinner just needs to navigate this service game and he’s into the final yet again.