By: Kwame Bediako
World No.1 tennis player Jannik Sinner displayed remarkable resilience as he overcame an elbow injury to defeat American Ben Shelton in straight sets and advance to the Wimbledon semi-finals.
The Italian, who had sustained the injury during a dramatic fourth-round match against Grigor Dimitrov, appeared largely untroubled in his 7-6(7-2), 6-4, 6-4 victory over the tenth-seeded Shelton.
This win marks Sinner’s fourth consecutive Grand Slam semi-final appearance, a feat last achieved by Rafael Nadal in 2009. Sinner’s elbow injury, sustained when he slipped during his last-16 match, threatened to derail his Wimbledon campaign after he dropped the first two sets against Dimitrov. However, Dimitrov’s retirement due to a chest injury allowed Sinner to progress, and the Italian showed no signs of lingering pain in his quarter-final clash.
Wearing a white sleeve on his right arm, Sinner controlled the match with precision, hitting 33 winners and committing only 17 unforced errors, while neutralizing Shelton’s power and serve.
The first set proved pivotal, with Sinner clinching the tie-break 7-2 after a tense back-and-forth. Shelton fought valiantly in the third set, saving two match points with a forehand winner and an ace, but Sinner’s composure prevailed as the American went long on the decisive point.
He is now the youngest man since Nadal to reach the semi-finals of four straight Grand Slams and ranks as the fifth-youngest to achieve three consecutive major semi-finals, joining legends like Federer, Djokovic and Courier. With a 24-3 record for the 2025 season, Sinner is poised to challenge for his first Wimbledon title and fourth Grand Slam crown overall.
