Australian Open Day 11 Wrap: Sinner and Swiatek Storm into Semifinals, Eyeing Grand Slam Glory
Defending champion Jannik Sinner and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek demonstrated their dominance on Wednesday as they raced into the semifinals, setting the stage for an electrifying final weekend.
Italian superstar Sinner, ranked No. 1 in the world, put on a masterclass performance against home favorite Alex de Minaur, overpowering him with a commanding score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.
The victory silenced the crowd at Rod Laver Arena and marked Sinner’s 10th consecutive win against De Minaur, who has yet to secure a victory against the Italian in their previous encounters.
After experiencing dizzy spells during a challenging four-set match against Holger Rune earlier in the tournament, Sinner came back with renewed vigor in the cooler evening conditions.
The 23-year-old is not only focused on defending his Grand Slam title for the first time but is also on a quest to become the first Italian man to win three Grand Slam titles, having already secured victories at the US Open last year.
Sinner’s next challenge will be against 21st seed Ben Shelton, who reached his first semifinals in Melbourne after a grueling four-set battle against unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego, winning 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4).
The 22-year-old American left-hander showcased his all-action style, matching his best performance at a major tournament after reaching the US Open semifinals in 2023.
Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek continued her quest for a first Australian Open crown with an impressive 6-1, 6-2 victory over American eighth seed Emma Navarro.
The 23-year-old Polish star has yet to lose a set in the tournament and has dropped only 14 games in five matches, a testament to her overwhelming form.
Swiatek’s journey to the semifinals was not without a touch of controversy. In a pivotal moment during the second set against Navarro, a drop shot by the American led to a desperate slide by Swiatek.
Navarro believed she had won the point, only to discover through replays that the ball had bounced twice. Unfortunately for Navarro, her request for a video review was denied after she failed to stop play immediately.
Looking ahead, Swiatek will face American 19th seed Madison Keys in the semifinals, set for Thursday evening. Keys, who stormed back from a set down to defeat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, is making her third appearance in the last four at Melbourne Park, a decade after her first.
Keys, currently riding a 10-match unbeaten streak after winning the Adelaide title, expressed her determination, stating, “I felt like I kind of just had to start playing a little bit more aggressive and try to get to the net a little bit quicker.”
The other women’s semifinal will feature two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka against Spain’s 11th seed Paula Badosa, promising an exciting climax to the tournament.
