World No 1 Jannik Sinner shrugged off any doubts about his fitness to reach the Wimbledon semifinal for the second time with a clinical defeat of American Ben Shelton on Wednesday.
On a muggy afternoon on Court One, the high-octane clash was decided by the finest of margins.
But when it mattered most, Sinner was clinical, seizing the few opportunities that came his way in ruthless fashion for a 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4 victory.
Sinner, who wore a long white sleeve to protect his right arm, lost only two points in his opening six service games but could not dent Shelton's booming delivery either before reeling off seven consecutive points to storm through the tiebreak.
Shelton, trying to reach his third Grand Slam semifinal, kept swinging in fearless fashion but could not land a telling blow on the three-time Grand Slam champion.
He faltered at 4-5 in the second set as Sinner converted just his second break point opportunity of the contest to take a stranglehold of the quarterfinal.
It was a repeat script in the third set. Sinner applied pressure in the 10th game and Shelton cracked, double-faulting before bashing a forehand long after two hours and 19 minutes.
Sinner's on song 🎶
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
The world No.1 takes down Ben Shelton in straight sets, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4 to reach the SF#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/6McH2zd2kG
The 23-year-old Sinner is aiming to banish the pain of losing in last month's French Open final by becoming the first Italian to win Wimbledon and next up is either seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, the man he was beaten by in the 2023 semis, or compatriot Flavio Cobolli.
After Monday's drama when Sinner fell and hurt his elbow against Grigor Dimitrov, who then himself retired hurt when leading by two sets, this was business as usual for Sinner who has now reached the semifinals of the last four Grand Slams.
"Of course, the feelings are definitely different. I'm very, very happy about today's performance," Sinner, who extended his winning streak over Americans to 20 matches and has now won 15 successive sets against Shelton, said on court.
Any issues with his suspect elbow could have been exposed by Shelton's 140mph plus serving, but apart from one moment in the second set he appeared untroubled.
"When you are in a match with a lot of tension, you try to not think about it," Sinner, who practised for only 20 minutes the day before the match, said.
For the 22-year-old Shelton he must be sick of the sight of Sinner and this was a harsh lesson in the difference between the very best and those trying to make their big breakthrough.
MISERLY MOOD
He did not do an awful lot wrong and the Court One crowd, some of whom shouted out 'C'mon Big Ben', were left gasping by the speed and power of his strokes.
But Sinner was in a miserly mood and simply bided his time.
When Shelton won only his second point on the Sinner serve with a backhand winner to lead 2-0 in the opening set tiebreak it seemed the door was slightly ajar.
It was an illusion though as Sinner upped the intensity, struck harder and closer to the lines and bullied his way through the next seven points.
Sinner saved the only two break points he faced at the start of the second set and it was not until the eighth game that he earned his first opportunity on Shelton's serve, but could do nothing as the American bludgeoned a forehand.
There was one moment of alarm when he clutched his arm but he remained unruffled and once he moved two sets clear the result became a formality.
💪 @janniksin 💪#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/DcPntRoAKd
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025