Sinner tames Shelton to reach Wimbledon semi-finals
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 9, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning his quarter final match against Ben Shelton of the U.S. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
LONDON - World number one Jannik Sinner shrugged off any doubts about his injured elbow to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the second time with a clinical defeat of powerful American 10th seed Ben Shelton on Wednesday.
A high-octane contest on a muggy Court One was decided by slender margins with Italian Sinner seizing the few opportunities that came his way in ruthless fashion for a 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4 victory.
The 23-year-old Sinner, bidding to become the first Italian to win Wimbledon, will face seven-times champion Novak Djokovic, the man he lost to in the 2023 semis, in the last four on Friday.
Sinner dropped two points on serve in the opening set but could make no impression on Shelton's booming delivery either before reeling off seven points to storm through the tiebreak.
Shelton continued slugging it out with the three-time Grand Slam champion but the American faltered at 4-5 in the second set, Sinner taking control as he converted just his second break point opportunity of the contest.
It was a repeat performance in the third set as Sinner applied the pressure in the 10th game and Shelton duly cracked, serving a double-fault before bashing a forehand long on match point after two hours and 19 minutes.
Sinner has now won an incredible 20 successive Tour-level matches against American players and his last 15 sets against Shelton who must be sick of the sight of him.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing
Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700
Singapore COE prices rise for all categories
Singapore Govt watching job situation for fresh graduates closely, exploring further support: Gan Siow Huang
Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months
Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m
Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student
Singapore People working in air-conditioned spaces prefer 24 deg C and warmer: Survey
After Monday's lucky escape against Grigor Dimitrov who retired hurt when leading by two sets after Sinner had appeared to also suffer an elbow injury, this was business as usual for the man who has reached the last four Grand Slam semi-finals.
"Of course, the feelings are definitely different. I'm very, very happy about today's performance," Sinner said.
Sinner's suspect elbow was given a thorough test by the 140mph serving of Shelton, but apart from one moment in the second set he appeared untroubled by it.
"When you are in a match with a lot of tension, you try to not think about it," he said. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
37 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Rejuvenated Stokes leads England to epic Lord's win
LONDON - England captain Ben Stokes was named player of the match after taking five wickets in his team's dramatic 22-run victory over India in the third test at Lord's as well as scoring 44 and 33 and running out the dangerous Rishabh Pant in a splendid all-round performance. Stokes, 34, underwent a successful operation on as torn hamstring in December followed by a rigorous physical fitness programme during which he lost 10 kilograms in weight. On Sunday he showed he was back to his best with the ball, knocking nightwatchman Akash Deep's off stump out of the ground as England captured three wickets in the final 30 minutes with India chasing 193 to take a 2-1 lead in the series. He resumed the attack from the Nursery End in Monday's morning session, bounding in for 80 minutes and capturing the key wicket of KL Rahul with a delivery which swung in late to trap the Indian opener for 39 after winning a review when his impassioned appeal was turned down. The television review showed the ball would have crashed into the leg stump and he continued to bowl at speeds consistently in excess of 85 miles an hour before handing the ball to Chris Woakes for the final 20 minutes of the morning session. An obdurate ninth-wicket stand between Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, cheered vociferously by the Indian supporters in a packed Lord's, frustrated England for most of the afternoon before Stokes had Bumrah caught skying a hook to mid-on. He finished with three for 46 from 24 overs, the most bowled by any England bowler, and switched his fielders constantly before racing to embrace his team mates when last man Mohammed Siraj played the ball on to his stumps. "I've taken myself to some pretty dark places," Stoke said after the match concluded in bright sunshine before a capacity crowd at the home of cricket. "But if bowling for your country to a test match win doesn't get you excited, I don't know what does. I was cooked yesterday but nothing was stopping me. I'm an all-rounder, I get four opportunities to influence the game." "I'd like to score more runs but you don't have a chance to worry about anything. Now I'm going to be looking forward to lying in my bed for four days." REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
England hold nerve to sink India in Lord's thriller
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Cricket - International Test Match Series - Third Test - England v India - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - July 14, 2025 England's Shoaib Bashir celebrates with teammates after taking the last wicket of India's Mohammed Siraj to win the test Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra LONDON - England stayed calm under intense pressure to beat India by 22 runs on a final day of simmering tension and drama in the third test at Lord's on Monday and move 2-1 up in the series. Shoaib Bashir bowled Mohammed Siraj for four to seal victory, India's number 11 playing a defensive stroke before the ball trickled down the face of his bat and rolled on to the stumps as he watched on in disbelief. As the England players celebrated wildly, Ravindra Jadeja trudged off the field having made a valiant unbeaten 61 to take India to the brink of an extraordinary win. "I probably bowled a few more overs than I thought I would but I am glad to get the win today on this special day," England fast bowler Jofra Archer said. "Honestly, I thought one of us would win by lunch. It dragged on a bit." The hosts had looked on course for a far more comfortable victory when they reduced India to 112-8 at lunch, but Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah battled for nearly two hours to inch their team towards a target of 193. Jadeja was given out lbw to Chris Woakes by the umpire but the decision was overturned on review and the left-hander heaved the next delivery over mid-wicket for six, prompting loud cheers from the Indian fans. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat England finally made the breakthrough when Bumrah, on five, skied an attempted pull off man-of-the-match Ben Stokes and was caught by substitute fielder Sam Cook. The majority of the crowd erupted with a mixture of joy and relief but Jadeja continued to frustrate England, reaching his 50, off 150 balls, by edging Stokes over the slips for four. Siraj survived 30 deliveries for his four runs as Jadeja farmed the bowling and took a succession of singles off the fourth ball of the over to dominate the strike. Siraj suffered a painful blow to his shoulder after being struck by an Archer delivery and shortly afterwards his resistance was finally broken. "To make a comeback like this was tremendous from Ravindra Jadeja and the lower order," India captain Shubman Gill said. "It was an anti-climax for us the way Mohammed Siraj went. We needed a couple of partnerships in our top order and that didn't happen for us." ENGLAND'S MORNING England had claimed four wickets in the morning to take charge of the match after India resumed on 58-4. Rishabh Pant played a strange one-handed straight drive for four off Archer to move to nine, but the fast bowler responded two balls later with an excellent delivery which uprooted his off stump. Stokes snared KL Rahul lbw for 39, the England captain dropping to his knees and imploring the umpire to give him out. He refused to do so but England called for a review and the decision was overturned to huge cheers from the crowd. Washington Sundar was next to fall for a duck, Archer leaping to his right to take a superb one-handed catch off his own bowling. Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy frustrated England with solid defence in a partnership of 30 until Woakes found the edge of Reddy's bat just before lunch to give the hosts a huge lift as they left the field to warm applause from a packed crowd. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
England win dramatic Lord's test by 22 runs
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Cricket - International Test Match Series - Third Test - England v India - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - July 14, 2025 England's Shoaib Bashir celebrates with teammates after taking the last wicket of India's Mohammed Siraj to win the test Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra LONDON - England beat India by 22 runs on a final day of simmering tension and high drama in the third test at Lord's on Monday to move 2-1 up in the series. Shoaib Bashir bowled Mohammed Siraj for four to seal victory, India's number 11 playing a defensive stroke before the ball trickled down the face of his bat and rolled on to the stumps as he watched on in disbelief. As the England players celebrated wildly, Ravindra Jadeja trudged off the field after making a valiant unbeaten 61 to take India to the brink of an extraordinary win. The hosts had looked on course for a far more comfortable victory when they reduced India to 112-8 at lunch, but Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah battled for nearly two hours to inch their team towards a target of 193. Jadeja was given out lbw to Chris Woakes by the umpire but the decision was overturned on review and the left-hander heaved the next delivery over mid-wicket for six, prompting loud cheers from the Indian fans. England finally made the breakthrough when Bumrah, on five, skied an attempted pull off Ben Stokes and was caught by substitute fielder Sam Cook. The majority of the crowd erupted with a mixture of joy and relief but Jadeja continued to frustrate England, reaching his 50, off 150 balls, by edging Stokes over the slips for four. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Siraj survived 30 deliveries for his four runs as Jadeja farmed the bowling and took a succession of singles off the fourth ball of the over to dominate the strike. Siraj suffered a painful blow to his shoulder after being struck by a Jofra Archer delivery and shortly afterwards his resistance was finally broken. ENGLAND'S MORNING England had claimed four wickets in the morning to take charge of the match after India resumed on 58-4. Rishabh Pant played an extraordinary one-handed straight drive for four off Archer to move to nine, but the fast bowler responded two balls later with an excellent delivery which uprooted his off stump. Stokes snared KL Rahul lbw for 39, the England captain dropping to his knees and imploring the umpire to give him out. He refused to do so but England called for a review and the decision was overturned to huge cheers from the crowd. Washington Sundar was next to fall for a duck, Archer leaping to his right to take a superb one-handed catch off his own bowling. Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy frustrated England with solid defence in a partnership of 30 until Woakes found the edge of Reddy's bat just before lunch to give the hosts a huge lift as they left the field to warm applause from a packed crowd. The series is level at 1-1. REUTERS
