Ben Shelton, a 22-year-old from Atlanta, has made a remarkable run to the semi-finals of the 2025 Australian Open, defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4) in a gripping quarter-final match. This marks his first semi-final appearance at a Grand Slam, with his only previous experience in a semi-final coming at the 2023 US Open, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic, the eventual champion.
Shelton’s victory in Melbourne came after a solid and composed performance against Sonego, where he played a steadier ground game than his opponent. Despite Sonego hitting more winners 63 compared to Shelton’s 54 the American kept his errors in check, committing only 33 unforced errors compared to Sonego’s 55. Shelton expressed relief after the match, praising his opponent’s impressive play while also reflecting on the significance of the win. “I feel relieved right now, shoutout to Lorenzo Sonego because that was some ridiculous tennis,” he said, visibly pleased with his performance. “I’m just really happy to be through, to get my first win on Rod Laver Arena. Thanks everybody for coming out, it was one of my favourite matches of my career.”
However, Shelton did not hold back in his criticism of the on-court interview process, particularly the remarks made by Australian broadcaster John Fitzgerald. After the match, Fitzgerald suggested that no one would be cheering for Shelton in the semi-finals, with his opponent yet to be determined between defending champion Jannik Sinner or local favourite Alex De Minaur. Shelton took the comment in stride, laughing it off and joking about the possibility of being booed or having objects thrown at him by the crowd in support of De Minaur. But in his post-match press conference, Shelton expressed his disappointment with the way players were being treated by broadcasters. He felt that the tone of the interviews had been disrespectful to athletes, and he wasn’t alone in his frustration. Shelton pointed to a previous incident involving Novak Djokovic, who had been mocked by broadcaster Tony Jones, who called him “overrated” and a “has-been.” Djokovic had refused to participate in the customary on-court interview following his fourth-round victory, demanding an apology from Jones.
Shelton also recounted another uncomfortable moment during his post-match interview after defeating Gael Monfils in the fourth round. He recalled a comment made by one of the interviewers suggesting that Monfils, who is significantly older than Shelton, could be his father. Shelton found the remark inappropriate and disrespectful, especially considering the interviewer was someone he had never met before. “There are some comments that have been made to me in post-match interviews by a couple of different guys,” Shelton said, recalling the interaction. “Whether it was: ‘Hey, Monfils is old enough to be your dad. Maybe he is your dad,’ or today on the court: ‘Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no one is going to be cheering for you?’”
Shelton’s frustration with the tone of these interviews was clear as he called for a change in how athletes are treated during such significant moments. “I feel like there’s just been a lot of negativity. I think that’s something that needs to change,” he said, emphasizing that broadcasters should focus on helping grow the sport and allowing players to enjoy their victories without negativity overshadowing their achievements.
Looking ahead, Shelton’s semi-final opponent will be the top-seeded Jannik Sinner, who recently defeated Alex De Minaur in straight sets. Shelton acknowledged the challenge, saying, “If it’s the No 1 in the world, I’m looking forward to it. I know I got a few in the crowd who are going to be pulling for me, too.”
Shelton, who has claimed two ATP titles, one in Tokyo at the 2023 Japan Open and another in Houston at the 2024 US Men’s Clay Court Championships, has yet to reach the quarter-finals in any of the four Grand Slam tournaments prior to this year. His journey in Melbourne has been a breakthrough, and he will now look to continue his impressive run as he prepares for the semi-finals.
