Lorenzo Sonego-Ben Shelton: precedent gives a clear indication
Lorenzo Sonego-Ben Shelton, two previous
It's a real date with history that awaits Lorenzo Sonego and Ben Shelton, set to face each other at dawn in Italy on Wednesday, Jan. 22 in the quarterfinal match of the Australian Open. Sonego, who with reaching the quarterfinals has already updated his best individual result in a Slam tournament, dreams of a historic semifinal, while Shelton wants to equal his longest path, when at the US Open in 2023 he reached precisely the semifinals.
There are two precedents between the Piedmontese and the Atlanta native, which can in their own way give an indication, that is, that there will be fun to be had: In 2022, in the first round of the Cincinnati Masters 1000, it was Shelton who prevailed, at the end of a very balanced match that ended 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-5. A year later, in the opening round of Roland Garros, Sonego would later take his revenge, beating the American 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
In the world rankings, Sonego currently occupies the No. 55 position, thoughé in October 2021 he managed to climb as high as No. 21. Shelton, on the other hand, è currently ranks 20th, with best ranking dating back to August 2024, when the U.S. managed to reach position number 13.
The two contenders will play for a place in the semifinals, then: awaiting the winner will be the athlete who emerges victorious from the other pairing on the same side of the scoreboard, which pits one against the other world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and home idol Alex de Minaur, a set of circumstances that could give a historic semifinal to tennis's Italy.
