Australian Open 2025: 'Big Ben' Shelton Advances to the Final Four, Faces the Defending Champion in the Semifinals

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - With championship weekend looming at Melbourne Park, the first Grand Slam of the year has seen its final four decided over two intense days of quarterfinal action.

In the men's singles, No. 21 seed Ben Shelton（USA） secured his second career Grand Slam semifinal berth after his debut at this stage at the 2023 US Open.

Meanwhile, fierce battles are also unfolding in the wheelchair and junior divisions, with many Yonex family members shining brightly.

Ben Propelled by Grit and Energy

The quarterfinal match, which marked Shelton's first appearance this year on Rod Laver Arena, turned out to be a truly "battle-tested" encounter.

It's no secret that Shelton's biggest weapon is his serve. However, his quarterfinal clash against Lorenzo Sonego showed that Shelton has more to offer - and proved he's an elite-level player even beyond his serve. Windy conditions neutralized Shelton's lethal serving, holding him to just nine aces across fours set, well below his typical output.

Yet, Shelton ran tirelessly, dove for shots and showcased his determination and mental strength to win.He attributes this resilience to his confidence in his physical condition.

"I always struggled physically. I would get deep in matches and I'd be cramping or tired and have no energy left," Shelton reflected on his previous limitations.

Now, Shelton has the stamina to win back-to-back-to-back matches at the majors. His patience and fighting spirit helped him seize victory in this quarterfinal match.

"I wasn't able to get the break, even though I was fighting, diving, doing whatever I could try to get a break in the fourth," Shelton explained.

The crucial juncture of this match came during the tiebreak in the fourth set, with Shelton leading 4-3. He dashed across the court, diving to return the ball, but Sonego captured the point.

Lying on the side of the court, Shelton rolled into a set of push-ups, sending a signal to his Italian foe: "I've still got plenty of energy in the tank." The move drew laughter from the crowd.

The moment marked a serious shift in momentum, however. Sonego missed a volley on the next point, and Shelton followed up with a service winner. He sealed the match with a thunderous inside-out forehand, finishing 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6.

After shaking hands with his opponent and the umpire, Shelton roared triumphantly at the crowd inside Rod Laver Arena. And as part of the tradition for winners, he wrote this on the camera lens: "Battle Tested."

Who does Shelton need to defeat to earn his place in a first-ever major final? That's right-World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

Defending Champion Tokito Oda Powers Towards Back-to-Back Titles

The fact that the current World No. 1 in men's wheelchair tennis is just 18 years old is remarkable in itself. In addition, the ultra-determined Tokito Oda (JPN) has already won four Grand Slam titles, including last year's Australian Open, rapidly following the path paved by the legendary Shingo Kunieda (JPN).

The young rock star has been unstoppable on his way to the top. He defeated his first-round opponent 6-0, 6-3 and dominated Takashi Sanada -a mentor-like figure to him-with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory in the second round.

Despite the similar scorelines, Oda noted key differences in the matches.

"Mr. Sanada's serve was fast, and he had good grand strokes so we had some great rallies," Oda explained, adding that these challenges helped elevate his own game.

While he once strongly focused on rival Alfie Hewett (GBR), Oda now competes with the confidence that he "won't lose to anyone."

The singular champion continues to carve his own path to greatness.

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