Jannik Sinner overcomes cramps and Ben Shelton to return to final

Jannik Sinner is now the first Italian man to make it to back-to-back Australian Open finals. The defending champion overcame cramps in the third set of the semi-finals against the American Ben Shelton to win 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2 on Friday.
Jannik Sinner thus earned his chance to chase his third Grand Slam title, when he faces off against No 2 Alexander Zverev on Sunday.
The match could have had a different outcome, if Shelton had managed to hold his nerve in the first set. The World No. 1 Sinner fell behind in the opening set and twice was a point from losing it when Shelton served at 6-5. But Jannik Sinner broke there, then dominated the ensuing tiebreaker, and broke again to begin the second set.
“It was a very tough first set but very crucial,” Jannik Sinner said after winning the Australian Open semi-final. “I felt he was not serving at his best today. The percentage was not where he would have wanted it at. I think we both returned better than we served. First sets are always very important. It gives you a lot of confidence and there was a lot of tension for both of us. I am very happy with how I handled the situation today.”
The 23-year-old from Italy also had to overcome cramps in the third set. He clutched at his left hamstring, and then his right thigh, in the third set. He was treated a trainer, who massaged both of Sinner’s legs during changeovers.
Sinner won his first major title at Melbourne Park a year ago, then grabbed No. 2 at the U.S. Open in September.
He’ll try to add to that total when he faces No. 2 Alexander Zverev on Sunday for the championship.
Zverev advanced when Novak Djokovic quit after one set of their semifinal Friday because of a leg injury.
(With inputs from AP)