Ben Shelton, 22, becomes youngest American man to reach Australian Open semifinals in 22 years

Two years ago, a 20-year-old Ben Shelton became the youngest American man to reach the semifinals of the US Open since Michael Chang in 1992.

Today, the big-serving lefty has become the youngest American man to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open since Andy Roddick in 2003.

Shelton, now 22, battled into the second Grand Slam semifinal of his career at Melbourne Park on Wednesday afternoon, outdoing first-time major quarterfinalist Lorenzo Sonego, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4).

He’s the fifth-youngest American man in the Open Era to reach the final four at the Australian Open.

(Open Era; ages listed calculated at end of the tournament)

YOUNGEST U.S. MEN TO REACH AUSTRALIAN OPEN SEMIFINALS

• 20 years, 149 days: Andy Roddick [2003]
• 21 years, 121 days: Jimmy Connors [1974]
• 21 years, 162 days: Jim Courier [1992]
• 21 years, 172 days: Pete Sampras [1993]
• 22 years, 109 days: Ben Shelton [2025]

Shelton has also become the first active American man to reach the semifinals at two different majors in his career. Frances Tiafoe has also reached multiple major semifinals, but both at the same major, the US Open, in 2022 and 2024.

Shelton and Sonego had met twice previously, splitting those meetings, but the American had won their only previous hard-court meeting, in Cincinnati in 2022, when he was still a teenager. He seemed headed for a straight-set victory on Wednesday after taking a relatively uncomplicated two-sets-to-none lead.

Things got a bit complicated in the third, though. After nine holds in a row to start the set, Shelton was broken from 40-0 up in the 10th game, eventually missing a forehand on set point to put Sonego right back into contention.

There was more danger in the fourth set, too, as Shelton faced a break point serving at 2-3. But after stabilizing and holding, Shelton reached a tiebreak where he broke away, winning the last three points from 4-all to close it out. He ripped one last forehand winner on match point.

“I mean, I feel relieved right now,” Shelton said in his on-court interview. “Shout out to Lorenzo Sonego, because that was some ridiculous tennis.”

It was a high-quality match from both players, Shelton finishing with 21 more winners than unforced errors (54 to 33), while Sonego was also in the positive (63 to 55).

In the American’s first major semifinal at the 2023 US Open he faced Novak Djokovic, going down to the eventual champion in straight sets. In the semis here, he’ll face either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, or Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur.