In the second men’s semifinal of the Australian Open, Jannik Sinner will face Ben Shelton. Here’s my betting prediction for this event: can the American put up a fight?
Jannik Sinner
The young Italian came into the tournament with high expectations, not least because he is currently the world’s No. 1 player. Sinner has dropped only two sets throughout the tournament, with his toughest match being against Rune, which he won in four sets.
A challenging quarterfinal was anticipated against Australia’s Alex de Minaur, but Sinner made quick work of his opponent, claiming a dominant victory in straight sets – 6:3, 6:2, 6:1. Now, just one step away from the final, Sinner faces an opponent who, for this stage, is not particularly threatening. At 23 years old, Sinner is the defending champion of the tournament and is aiming to retain his title.
Ben Shelton
The American has reached a Grand Slam semifinal for only the second time in his career, never having progressed further. At 22, Shelton is ranked 20th in the world.
So far in the tournament, Shelton has won only one match in straight sets, with his other opponents managing to take a set off him. Reaching the semifinal is a significant achievement, but it’s worth noting that his path has been relatively easy, as he hasn’t faced a single top-tier player. Shelton is a promising talent, but winning a Grand Slam seems out of reach for him at this stage.
Head-to-Head
The players have met five times, with Sinner leading the rivalry 4–1. Last year, they played three matches, all won by the Italian without dropping a set, although Shelton put up some resistance.
Match Facts
- Sinner has won all five of his matches this season.
- Shelton has five wins in six matches this season.
- The odds for this match are as follows: Sinner win (P1) – 1.06, Shelton win (P2) – 11.
Prediction
Shelton is seen as a clear underdog in this matchup. In other words, the American isn’t yet ready to defeat the world’s top-ranked player. I believe Sinner will undoubtedly reach the final—the question is how convincingly he’ll do it. My bet is on Sinner winning with a -6 game handicap.
Jason Collins
Dailysports's expert
Jannik Sinner
Ben Shelton
