Sinner and Musetti on the pitch, Italy dreams of a historic derby in Melbourne

Tomorrow the Azzurri return to the pitch: Jannik Sinner vs. Ben Shelton (not before 09.00 Italian time) e Lorenzo Musetti with Novak Djokovic (not before 04.30).

The two blues, who already last year at the US Open they were protagonists of the derby later in the draw in a slam – quarter-finals, won for the record by Sinner 6-1 6-4 6-2 – they take to the field with the aim of updating that record and compete in the semifinals at the Australian Open next Friday.

Hot risk averted for Jannik Sinner

The world no.2 and reigning champion for two years in Melbourne arrives at the challenge with Shelton after overcoming the eighth another Italian, Luciano Darderi. When asked about his next opponent, he said that “fortunately” he knows him well and that he has improved “in some aspects of the game”. “It will be a different match from the one” with Darderi, he added, underlining that “matches can be physical and longit will also depend on whether I play in the daytime session or in the evening session”, he added, expressing his opinion worry about the heat which was about to prove fatal to him in the round of 32 match against Elliot Spizzirri. And the judges seem to have satisfied him by placing his match no earlier than 7pm (9 Italian).

In 2025 Jannik and Shelton met in the semifinals

Sinner ha Met Shelton 8 times, winning 7 occasions, including three slams (two Wimbledons and one Australian Open), without losing a set. Only defeat, 2 sets to one, in Shanghai in 2023. Last year in Melbourne they met in the semi-final and it was a monologue from the Italian. It is to be hoped that the script repeats itself.

Musetti starts as an underdog but his game enchants

As for Lorenzo Musetti, the 23 year old Carrarino faces for the eleventh time the Serbian (who is ahead 9-1 in the matches) and, as usual,arrives at the appointment not as a favorite (Snai odds 3.25his victory against 1.35 that of Nole). But this time it seems that the outcome of the challenge is anything but already written because the tennis showcased byLorenzo ‘the Magnificent’so far – especially in the round of 16 against Tylor Fritz – he has been of a power, beauty and effectiveness never seen before. Aleap in quality and solidity that makes it difficultto think that truly the eternal champion,ultimo del Big Three still in business and one of the few on the circuit to be able toface Sinner and Alcarazwith a (remote) hope of victory, he will have an easy life.

Opportunity for Lorenzo the Magnificent to become world no.3

If he won, Musetti would probably take a step decisive for the conquest of third position in the ATP rankings. In fact, if the Italian beat the Serbian, he would reach 4805 points, surpassing bothDjokovic (would remain at 4380) than Alexander Zverev. The current world no.3, for his part, is forced to perform a miracle to reach the final again as in 2025 formaintain his place on the podium of the ATP rankings: on his way he will have Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final. If the German couldn’t win against the Spaniard, yesit would stop at 4605 points.