Ben Shelton already sends a message to Jannik Sinner.
Ben Shelton is already dreaming of a quarterfinal at the Australian Open (and maybe even a win) against Jannik Sinner. The world number 8, expected to play the eighth against Casper Ruud, after beating Vacherot let loose in a press conference: “I am doing everything right, I am very satisfied with my tennis and I feel in great shape. I have great confidence in my game and I think the improvements made during the preseason are showing”.
The American spoke openly about the’Alto Adige, who is on his side of the scoreboard, as well as the world No. 1, a possible opponent only in a’possible final: “Sinner and Alcaraz are amazing players, but I have been working on some details to improve my serve and make my movement smoother. Now I can vary the rhythm better with my backhand and I am more accurate with forehand and serve. When I play on stages like this, I get excited”.
Great news meanwhile for Novak Djokovic, who qualified for the quarterfinals of the Australian Open without playing. The Serbian tennis player took advantage of the injury of young rising star Jakub Mensik, who was forced to stop due to abdominal problems. “It’s an unfortunate decision. After the last two matches, I had more and more pain and the problem comes from the left side of my abdominal muscles,” said the Czech. In the quarterfinals Djokovic will face the winner of the match between Lorenzo Musetti and Taylor Fritz.
Nole, who played Saturday against Botic van de Zandschulp, will thus enjoy two extra days of rest ahead of the hot phase of the tournament he has won 10 times before. Should he make it past the quarterfinals, the 24-time Slam winner could take on Jannik Sinner, who is on the same side of the draw as him, in the semifinals.
In the meantime, Daniil Medvedev’s run at the Australian Open ended in the round of 16: the Russian tennis player was routed in three sets by Vietnamese-born American Learner Tien, who won with scores of 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 in an hour and 40 minutes of play.
