Jannik Sinner cruised into the Australian Open semi-finals after downing home hopeful Alex de Minaur in straight sets at Rod Laver Arena. 

Sinner, who had been battling illness during his last match against Holger Rune, showed no signs of struggling, emerging a 6-3 6-2 6-1 victor in one hour and 48 minutes. 

The Italian started strongly in the opener, earning the first break in the third game after De Minaur pulled a backhand wide following a lengthy rally. 

De Minaur missed a chance to break straight back, with Sinner ruthlessly punishing that squandered opportunity to close out the opening set on his serve. 

The world number one dominated from there on, starting the second set with a brilliant cross-court winner after De Minaur had driven a fierce backhand down the line. 

Sinner broke once again and, despite De Minaur saving one break point, could not do so again, with the Italian winning the second to edge close to victory. 

Sinner needed just 29 minutes to reach his fifth career grand slam final, with a sizzling backhand that brought up match point converted at the second attempt. 

He will now face Ben Shelton for a place in the final after the American beat Lorenzo Sonego earlier in the day. 

Final Forza

Defending champion Jannik Sinner reaches the last four! #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/1BEvP8tw19

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2025

Data Debrief: The Italian Job

Sinner has become only the second Italian of all-time to reach five singles semi-finals at Grand Slam events, after Nicola Pietrangeli.

The Italian also became the youngest player to reach back-to-back men’s singles semi-finals at the Australian Open since Rafael Nadal (2008-09).

He has now won 19 consecutive Grand Slam matches on hard courts, becoming the youngest player to do so since John McEnroe (1979-81).

Among active players, Sinner (80%, 36-9) has surpassed Carlos Alcaraz for the outright second-best grand slam win rate on hard court, trailing only Novak Djokovic.