Summary

  • Men's singles semi-finals on day 13 of Australian Open

  • Jannik Sinner defeats Ben Shelton 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2

  • Italian will face Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final

  • Zverev advanced after Novak Djokovic - bidding for 25th Grand Slam title - retired injured

  • GB's Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid win wheelchair doubles title, Andy Lapthorne wins quad doubles

  1. Then there were two...published at 11:57 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Alexander ZverevImage source, Getty Images

    Thanks for joining us for today's men's singles semi-finals.

    The finalists have been decided, but will come out on top? Alexander Zverev or Jannik Sinner?

    We'll have to wait until Sunday to find out. See you then!

    Jannik SinnerImage source, Getty Images
  2. What's coming up tomorrow?published at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Aryna SabalenkaImage source, Getty Images

    Second Saturday means only one thing - it's women's finals day.

    Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to become the first woman in 26 years to win three successive Australian Open titles.

    But Madison Keys stands in her way and is searching for her very first Grand Slam title.

    You won't want to miss it! We'll be back tomorrow morning to bring you all the build-up and action, along with radio commentary, from the final which starts at around 08:30 GMT.

    Madison KeysImage source, Getty Images
  3. 'It will be a very tough match'published at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 Shelton

    On facing number two seed Alexander Zverev in the final: "It will be a very tough match. We had some tough matches in the past. Everything can happen. He is an incredible player, he is looking for his first major and there is going to be a lot of tension again. But I'm happy to put myself in this position once again.

    "Sundays are always very special, especially in tournaments. I'm going to enjoy it. Thank you so much again for your support, hopefully it's going to be a good match."

  4. 'We are a team on the court and a family off the court'published at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 Shelton

    Jannik Sinner on changing his coaching team after crashing out of the Australian Open semi-finals two years ago: "Every coach I have been with, there is a huge amount of work that we have done. It was a tough moment to change, but I already made some big changes when I was 13-years-old and now I have an incredible team right there. They raised me as a different player. Every coach has their own department in which they are very good, and I have two very different coaches.

    "Simone [Vagnozzi] is very tactical. He was ranked 161 when he was around 30 years old, so it's a bit different! But he always said that his goal was always to be a coach, even when he played. I have to say he is a very good coach, he is an amazing coach. We leave each other now but it's a great relationship because we are a team on the court and a family off the court, so it is amazing to have.

    "Darren [Cahill] is seeing out his last season as a coach this year, so I'm happy that we have another chance to fight for another title. The season is still on, but it means a lot to me to make it happen here.

    "I don't want to forget my physio and physical trainer because, if not, they get very offended! The whole team is so amazing. But the work still continues - I'm still 23 years old, so let's see what is coming."

  5. Postpublished at 11:46 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 Shelton

    Some more remarkable Jannik Sinner stats for you...

    The top seed, 23, is the youngest man to reach multiple Australian Open finals since Jim Courier in 1993.

    He has won 36 of his past 37 matches, with his only defeat coming against Carlos Alcaraz in a deciding-set tie-break in Beijing in October.

    And Sinner is aiming to become the first Italian to win three major titles. Nicola Pietrangeli triumphed at Roland Garros in 1959 and 1960.

    Jannik Sinner holds up his hand in appreciation to the crowdImage source, Getty Images
  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:44 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    #bbctennis, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    The optimist in me says Zverev will stand a chance against Sinner. The realist in me says the engraver is asking if Sinner has 2 'n’s'...

    Adrian Riddell

  7. 'There was a lot of tension'published at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 Shelton

    More from Jannik Sinner on needing to call on his physio during the match: "There was just a lot of tension and I had some slight cramps. Ben was also struggling a little bit in his legs today so I was trying to move him around and stay a little bit more aggressive, which helped a lot.

    "These matches can go very long, three sets and two and a half hours is quite some time so I'm happy to finish it in three sets today. We will see what is coming on Sunday."

  8. Postpublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 Shelton

    That's 20 consecutive wins for Jannik Sinner.

    It's also his 13th straight win at the Australian Open.

    And he's on a 13-match winning streak at Grand Slams.

    No wonder he's the world number one!

  9. 'I'm very happy with the way I handled the situation'published at 11:38 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 Shelton

    Jannik Sinner speaking on court after sealing his spot in the Australian Open final and continuing his title defence: "It was a very tough first set but a very crucial one. I felt like he wasn't serving at his best today, the percentage wasn't where he wanted it to be. I think we both actually returned better than we served.

    "The first set is always very important, it gives you a lot of confidence and there was a lot of tension for both of us. I'm very happy with the way I handled the situation today. Obviously the support has been amazing, so thank you so much as always for coming. I'm happy to be back in the final here."

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:36 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    #bbctennis, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Now that you know who your finalists are, what are you expecting on Sunday?

    A Jannik Sinner masterclass? Or a maiden major title for Alexander Zverev?

    Let us know using the details above.

  11. Sinner vs Zverev head-to-headpublished at 11:34 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Jannik Sinner of Italy shakes hands with Alexander Zverev of GermanyImage source, Getty Images

    Sunday's final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev will be their seventh meeting.

    Zverev holds the advantage in their head-to-head, having won four of their last six matches, though Sinner won the most recent - in the Cincinnati semi-finals last year.

    They have met three times at Grand Slams, with Zverev winning both matches on the hard courts of the US Open, while Sinner came out on top of their clash on clay at Roland Garros in 2020.

  12. Sinner defeats Shelton to reach finalpublished at 11:31 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 Shelton

    So there you have it! It will be Jannik Sinner who faces Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final.

  13. 'Shelton threw everything and the kitchen sink at Sinner'published at 11:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 Shelton

    Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

    A good effort from Ben Shelton.

    He threw everything and the kitchen sink at Jannik Sinner, and you have to applaud him for that. That was a good performance, even though it went flat in the second set, but he did give it everything.

    It was always going to be tricky for him to be able to match toe-to-toe with Jannik Sinner, particularly rallying from the back, but he tried lots of different things.

    Jannik Sinner shakes hands with Ben SheltonImage source, Reuters
  14. game, set and match

    Game, set and match - Sinnerpublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January
    Breaking

    Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-2 Shelton

    YES HE CAN!

    For the second year in a row, Jannik Sinner has made it to the final fo the Australian Open. His title defence lives on.

    A quick shake of his fists before the Italian gives Ben Shelton a hug at the net.

    Jannik Sinner pumps his fistImage source, Getty Images
  15. Match point Sinnerpublished at 11:23 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    *Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 5-2 Shelton

    Ben Shelton's service return floats long and Jannik Sinner has got himself match point.

    Can he do it at the first time of asking?

  16. Sinner serving for matchpublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    *Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 5-2 Shelton

    Ben Shelton is keen to push back defeat for at least another moment or two and a superb backhand winner sees him open up a 15-30 lead before Jannik Sinner claws a point back. 30-30.

  17. 'This is probably more of a protective measure'published at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    *Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 5-2 Shelton

    Mark Woodforde
    17-time Grand Slam doubles champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

    The trainer is out once again for Jannik Sinner, but it will be a case of projecting forward.

    He is in a convincing position right now so this is probably more of a protective, just in case measure.

    There are some signals coming from the trainer as well about the positioning of the massage. They are giving both quads and hamstrings a good working over.

  18. Sinner serving for matchpublished at 11:21 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    *Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 5-2 Shelton

    Before serving for the match, Jannik Sinner receives more treatment on that right thigh that seems to be causing him a bit of bother.

    He's just one game away from a place in the final. Can he see it out?

  19. Sinner breaks to serve for matchpublished at 11:19 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January

    *Sinner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 5-2 Shelton

    It's looking like this semi-final could all be over very quickly for Ben Shelton, who goes wide to hand Jannik Sinner the break and the chance to serve out the match.