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Top seed Jannik Sinner booked his place in the Wimbledon semifinals for the second year running on Wednesday, producing a calm and clinical display to defeat American number 10 seed Ben Shelton 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4 on Court One.
On a muggy afternoon at the All England Club, the world number one showed no signs of physical discomfort following recent concerns about his health. Instead, he delivered a performance marked by patience, precision, and strategic control to subdue one of the sport's most explosive young talents.
The first set was dominated by serve, with neither player facing a break point. Sinner, characteristically solid on his own delivery, dropped just two points on serve. Shelton, known for his booming lefty serve and aggressive baseline game, kept the Italian at bay - until the tiebreak. There, Sinner's superior shot tolerance and court positioning paid off, as he raced through seven of eight points to take the opener.
Shelton continued to play on the front foot, but Sinner's steady hand never wavered. At 4-5 in the second set, the American wobbled, offering up just enough of an opening for Sinner to strike. The Italian converted his second break point of the match and calmly served out the set.
The third followed a similar script - Shelton holding firm, but unable to dent Sinner's defenses. Again, with the set nearing a tiebreak, Sinner raised his level in the critical 10th game. Shelton cracked under pressure, sending a forehand long on match point after two hours and 19 minutes of high-level tennis.
While Shelton's raw power and fearless shot-making kept the contest competitive, Sinner's maturity and match management proved decisive. The 22-year-old now advances to the last four, where he will continue his quest for a second Grand Slam title - and his first at Wimbledon.
The win also marks Sinner's 42nd match victory of the season and underscores his growing reputation as one of the most complete players on tour. As the grass continues to suit his evolving all-court game, the Italian remains firmly in contention for the sport's most prestigious title.
