MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Jannik Sinner dismissed No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the Australian Open semifinals Wednesday and extend the country’s decades-long wait for another homegrown men’s singles Grand Slam champion.
Sinner, whose Grand Slam breakthrough came in last year’s tournament at Melbourne Park, will take on American and No. 21 seed Ben Shelton with his sights set on a third major trophy after also lifting the US Open title in September.
Defeat extinguished local favorite De Minaur’s ambitious bid to end Australia’s 49-year wait for a men’s champion since Mark Edmondson’s triumph, but fans at a packed Rod Laver Arena gave him a standing ovation for his valiant effort.
“I feel like today I was feeling everything,” Sinner said. “When you break so early in each set, it’s a bit easier. But he’s a tough competitor, an amazing player. So many people came here for him tonight, but it was an amazing atmosphere.
“We know each other quite well. We played so many times, we know each other’s game, so we try to prepare in the best possible way. These matches can go quickly, but things can change fast.”
De Minaur had a mountain to climb from the start, with the 25-year-old needing a first victory over Sinner in their 10th meeting to become the first man from his nation to reach the Australian Open semifinals since Lleyton Hewitt two decades ago.
The early exchanges were encouraging and resembled a game of pinball with some big baseline hitting from both players, before Sinner broke for a 3-1 lead that laid the platform for the 23-year-old to clinch the opening set.
Sinner showed no signs of the illness that made him struggle in his last match as he broke early in the second set, hitting a spectacular swatted crosscourt forehand winner to leave his opponent looking a little demoralized.
“Yesterday was an easy day. I played just 30-40 minutes with my coaches [in practice],” Sinner said. “They gave me a good rhythm. I feel when you’re young, you recover fast. It’s a bit different. I really like to sleep, so I rested in the best possible way to recover and try to be ready.”
Sinner breezed through the first three games of the third set and quickly wrapped up the match, finishing it with one final break of serve.
