Ben Shelton reaches Australian Open semi-finals and matches Rafael Nadal's record

Ben Shelton is through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open after defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in a hard-fought battle. This victory marks a significant achievement for the American, who became the first male player since Rafael Nadal to reach the Australian Open semi-finals within two years of making his tournament debut.

The result highlights the quality of the rising star, and he will look to carry this momentum forward as he aims for even bigger wins in the future.

In a gruelling contest that lasted three hours and 50 minutes, Shelton secured a 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4) victory over his Italian opponent. The match showcased his heart, resilience, and ability to deliver under pressure.

A key part of the contest was net play, with both players engaging in an incredible 139 points at the net. One of the defining moments of the match came after Shelton dropped the third set when he saved a critical break point in the fourth set’s sixth game. This prevented the momentum from swinging in Sonego’s favour and allowed Shelton to take control in the decisive moments.

It was a hard-fought win, and after the match, Shelton showed his respect for Sonego:

"I feel relieved right now; shoutout to Lorenzo Sonego because that was some ridiculous tennis," said Shelton in his on-court interview. "I'm thrilled to be through and win my first Rod Laver Arena match. Thanks, everybody, for coming out; it was one of my favourite career matches."

By reaching the semi-finals, Shelton has become the first player since Rafael Nadal to achieve this feat within two years of making his tournament debut. Nadal accomplished this in 2006, going on to become one of the greatest players of all time. Shelton’s rapid rise suggests he could be on a similar trajectory in the years to come.

Shelton’s focus now turns to the semi-finals, where a difficult challenge awaits him. The 22-year-old will face either defending champion Jannik Sinner or home favourite Alex de Minaur. A victory would propel Shelton to a career-high world ranking of fifth, an exciting prospect for the American and his fans.

Shelton had this to say about his upcoming match:

"If I'm facing the home favourite Alex de Minaur, 100%. You guys can boo me, throw stuff at my head, I understand, he's the home guy.

"If it's the number one in the world, it'll be the same, so I'm looking forward to it. A few people in the crowd will also pull for me."

Shelton is a great talent who remains firmly focused on capturing his first grand slam title. As stated before, he will have a formidable opponent in the semi-final, but with the momentum he has built throughout the tournament, he will be confident in his chances of securing another big win.