Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame some third-set cramping and beat Ben Shelton 7-6 (2) 6-2 6-2 on Friday to return to the Australian Open 2025 final as he seeks a third Grand Slam title. The No. 1-ranked Sinner a 23-year-old from Italy fell behind in the opening set and twice was a point from losing it when Shelton served at 6-5. But Sinner broke there then dominated the ensuing tiebreaker and broke again to begin the second set. “It was a very tough first set but a very crucial one” said Sinner who ran his winning streak to 20 matches dating to late last season. He said the matchup against the 21st-seeded Shelton an American appearing in his second major semifinal and first at Melbourne Park was filled with ‘a lot of tension’. “I’m very happy with how I handled the situation today” Sinner said.   Sinner salutes on semifinal day! The defending champion will seek back-to-back #AusOpen titles on Sunday.@janniksin • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/iknm62tST1 — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24 2025 The only trouble he ran into in the last two sets of the 2 1/2-hour contest in Rod Laver Arena was when he clutched at his left hamstring and then his right thigh in the third. He was treated by a trainer who massaged both of Sinner’s legs during changeovers. Sinner is now the youngest man since Jim Courier in 1992-93 to reach consecutive finals at the Australian Open. It was Courier who conducted the post-match interview with Sinner on Friday. Sinner won his first major title at Melbourne Park a year ago then grabbed No. 2 at the US Open in September shortly after being exonerated in a doping case that is still under appeal. There is a hearing scheduled for April. On Sunday Sinner will try to add to his trophy haul when he faces No. 2 Alexander Zverev for the championship. Zverev advanced to his third major final — he is 0-2 with both losses in five sets — when Novak Djokovic quit after one set of their semifinal Friday because of a leg injury. “Everything can happen. He’s an incredible player” Sinner said about Zverev. “He’s looking for his first major. There’s going to be again a lot of tension.”