Sinner vs. Djokovic: Melbourne Semifinal Preview | ATP Tour

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Old acquaintances! Sinner cites Djokovic in Melbourne semi-finals

The Italian seeks his third consecutive title in Australia

January 28, 2026

The pressure does not affect the shots of Jannik Sinner, present in the semifinals of the Australian Open for the third consecutive season. The Italian overcame a cool challenge this Wednesday against the American Ben Shelton, whom he defeated 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to safely settle in the penultimate round of the tournament. Leaving further and further away the problems suffered in the heat of Melbourne, a real threat to his body in the heart of the tournament, the current champion managed to be two steps away from an immense feat: three consecutive crowns under the Australian sun.

“It’s very hard to play against Ben,” Sinner admitted after the match. “He has a huge serve and I think he’s getting a lot better every year. Especially after preseason, you don’t know how certain players are going to play against you and it changes a lot of things. I’m very happy with my performance today.”

The ticket to the semifinals posed an obvious requirement to the current champion: deactivate one of the most fearsome blows on the circuit. Shelton’s serve, a huge blow at the birth of the exchange, was fueled by the high temperatures of Melbourne, with peaks of extreme intensity in the first part of the tournament. If Jannik’s legs are ready for a third consecutive cup at the Rod Laver Arena, where explosiveness will be a fundamental requirement, the American’s challenge seemed a perfect test to prove it.

The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings managed a match of consistency, where he defused any dangerous situation on the other side of the net. Sinner went through all three sets with his serve intact, a stroke he has honed especially hard in the preseason. The Italian’s reflexes also compensated for Shelton’s power, unable to push the current champion to the limit in any of the sets.

Most consecutive Grand Slam singles semifinals (Open Era)

The road to the cup will place Sinner before a game without secrets. The current champion will play the semifinals of the Australian Open against the Serbian Novak Djokovic, whom Lorenzo Musetti dominated with a two-set lead (6-4, 6-3, 1-3) before an injury forced the Italian to leave the tournament. Both will meet again two seasons later at the Rod Laver Arena. In 2024, Sinner broke an armored barrier, becoming the first player able to defeat Belgrade in one of the last two rounds of the tournament.

“You train for moments like this,” declared the Italian about his next appointment against Djokovic. “I will get up with enthusiasm and I hope I can play a good match. If you want to win, you have to play at your best level. I have received great lessons before and beyond the result, it makes you improve as a player and a person. We are lucky that Novak is still there, displaying incredible tennis at his age.”

In one of the most intense rivalries on the circuit, Sinner dominates the Lexus ATP Head2Head history over the Balkan 6-4, including the five most recent duels between the two. The Italian has dominated his last three Grand Slam meetings, with last season’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon semi-finals being the freshest emotional blows in his memory.

The fight for the Grand Slam has been a forbidden territory since the beginning of 2024, with Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz monopolizing the last eight crowns in the category. In Melbourne, where the Italian and Spanish have authoritatively assured their presence in the penultimate round of the tournament, the great direct duel of the ATP Tour once again appears on the horizon as a firm possibility for next Sunday. The only remaining Grand Slam final between the two is now one match away.

Melbourne Park, too, is witnessing a fight for history in the hands of Sinner, ready to record his name in the books of sport. The Italian aspires to become the fifth man in the Open Era capable of winning at least three singles titles at the Australian Open. The one from San Candido could follow in the footsteps of figures like Djokovic (10), Roger Federer (5), Andre Agassi (4) and Mats Wilander (3) in the first Grand Slam of the season.

Did you know that…?
Jannik Sinner is the second Italian man with the most singles victories in Grand Slam. The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, who has already accumulated 92 wins, is just two wins away from the record established by Nicola Pietrangeli (94). A figure that he would equal if he were to retain the crown this week at Melbourne Park.