Sinner sets sights on Djokovic showdown after storming into Australian Open semis: 'These are moments you practice for'

It was just another day in the office for Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner as he defeated USA’s Ben Shelton in straight sets to storm into the semi-finals of the Australian Open men’s singles competition, keeping his hopes of winning a third consecutive title intact. Sinner outclassed Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a contest that lasted a little over two hours, extendoing his winning run at Melbourne Park to 19 matches and inching closer to a hat-trick of titles in the season’s first Grand Slam.

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Standing before him in the semi-finals, however, is Novak Djokovic – the most successful player at the Australian Open in the ‘Open Era’ as well as the joint-most successful player in the sport in terms of Grand Slam titles. The Serbian icon will not only be aiming to add to his 10 Australian Open titles this week, he will also feel this is his best chance to end his long-wait for a record 25th Grand Slam.

Sinner gears up for latest showdown with Djokovic

Sinner, for one, isn’t too fazed by the prospect of facing Djokovic; he has, after all, emerged victories multiple times against the 38-year-old including in the semi-finals of the French Open and Wimbledon last year, and is on a five-match winning streak against him heading into Friday’s semi-finals.

“These are moments you practice for. Hopefully a good match. I’m looking forward to it. It improves you as a player and a person. We’re so lucky to have Novak here playing, with his age. We play for you guys, but we also play for us. Hopefully, it’s going to be a good game,” Sinner said during the post-match interview on court after beating Shelton.

Djokovic had earlier qualified for the semi-finals after getting a walkover from Sinner’s compatriot Lorenzo Musetti despite the latter being two sets up, with the score reading 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 at the time his retirement.

Sinner’s arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, squares off against Alexander Zverev – last year’s runner-up who had progressed to the final via a walkover after Djokovic failed to last beyond a set in the semi-final.

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