The Italian champion beat Ben Shelton in three sets, raising his level in the decisive moments and qualifying for the quarterfinals of Wimbledon
Jannik Sinner beat Ben Shelton in three sets, qualifying for the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and rewriting – once again – the history of Italian tennis. In fact, none of his countrymen had ever been able to reach the quarterfinals of the Championships three times; Jannik did it in three consecutive editions. In a match played in an almost perfect manner, in the only moment of real tension, Sinner raised the level of his tennis, becoming unplayable in the clutch moments, as had already happened against Matteo Berrettini in the 2nd round. The Italian handled the pressure with extreme calm and managed to cancel four set points in the final part of the third set.
At the press conference, Jannik explained how he manages to raise his level in decisive moments, also revealing that he can’t wait to face Daniil Medvedev, his next opponent in the quarterfinals.
“It’s fantastic to have won in three sets and be in the quarterfinals. I can’t wait to face Medvedev. Every match is a story in itself. In the Australian Open final it was as if we had played two different matches. I know it will be difficult to beat Daniil, it’s a great challenge, but I work and prepare every day to face these matches and find myself in this position. The serve works well for me and, on this surface, it’s the most decisive shot. I must say that I’m also returning great. The thing that makes me most proud is seeing that I’m able to give my best in the important moments of each match. I make the right decisions and, even if it happens that I miss a few shots, I have enough courage to go and take the point. This is a fundamental thing for me,” he explained.
Shelton, barring the third set, struggled to return Sinner’s serve, a serve that has now become a very effective shot for the new ATP No. 1. To access the semifinals of the Championships, the 22-year-old will have to beat Medvedev, the tennis player who in a certain sense represented the turning point for him. After six defeats in a row, in fact, he has given Sinner an extraordinary confidence. The Russian is still ahead 6-5 in head-to-head matches, but the Italian has won the last five challenges. Impossible to forget the final of the Australian Open, when Sinner won the first Slam of his career by completing a sensational comeback.
