Jannik Sinner rocks De Minaur, faces Shelton in Australian semis - ESPN

MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Jannik Sinner dismissed No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the Australian Open semifinals Wednesday and extend the country's decades-long wait for another homegrown men's singles Grand Slam champion.

Sinner, whose Grand Slam breakthrough came in last year's tournament at Melbourne Park, will take on American and No. 21 seed Ben Shelton with his sights set on a third major trophy after also lifting the US Open title in September.

Defeat extinguished local favorite De Minaur's ambitious bid to end Australia's 49-year wait for a men's champion since Mark Edmondson's triumph, but fans at a packed Rod Laver Arena gave him a standing ovation for his valiant effort.

«I feel like today I was feeling everything,» Sinner said. «When you break so early in each set, it's a bit easier. But he's a tough competitor, an amazing player. So many people came here for him tonight, but it was an amazing atmosphere.

»We know each other quite well. We played so many times, we know each other's game, so we try to prepare in the best possible way. These matches can go quickly, but things can change fast."

De Minaur had a mountain to climb from the start, with the 25-year-old needing a first victory over Sinner in their 10th meeting to become the first man from his nation to reach the Australian Open semifinals since Lleyton Hewitt two decades ago.

The early exchanges were encouraging and resembled a game of pinball with some big baseline hitting from both players, before Sinner broke for a 3-1 lead that laid the platform for the 23-year-old to clinch the opening set.

Sinner showed no signs of the illness that made him struggle in his last match as he broke early in the second set, hitting a