World No. 1 Jannik Sinner advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 ATP Finals with a decisive win over Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Wednesday. The victory not only secured the Italian’s spot in the last four of the prestigious event but also confirmed American rising star Ben Shelton’s elimination.
Jannik Sinner’s Group-Stage Win Confirms Ben Shelton’s Elimination From ATP Finals
Shelton’s debut in Turin fell short of the high expectations set by fans. The American struggled from the outset, losing his opening group-stage match 3-6, 6-7(8), leaving him with no margin for error in subsequent matches, as every game became a must-win.
On Wednesday, Shelton faced Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime in his second group-stage match. The encounter proved grueling, with Shelton seizing an early advantage by taking the first set 6-4. Both players left everything on the court in a fiercely contested second set, which went to a tiebreak, but Auger-Aliassime’s resilience helped him prevail 7-6(7). The third set mirrored the intensity of the first two, yet the Canadian edged it 7-5, keeping his tournament hopes alive.
Meanwhile, Sinner faced World No. 3 Zverev in their group-stage clash and looked in complete command from the outset. The Italian took the opening set 6-4 before cruising to a 6-3 victory in the second, extending his head-to-head lead over the German to 6-4. With the win, Sinner moved one step closer to defending his title in Turin, sealing his spot in the semifinals.
With two group-stage victories, Sinner has secured his place in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, each holding one win and one loss, remain in contention for the remaining spot; their showdown on Saturday will decide who advances.
Shelton, meanwhile, has suffered two defeats and, with only one match left to play against Sinner on Friday, is mathematically out of contention. This means the American’s elimination was confirmed even before his forthcoming group-stage match takes place.
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While Sinner, Zverev, and Auger-Aliassime now set their sights on the battles ahead, Shelton will aim to raise his level in the 2026 season. In a candid post-match reflection, the American admitted that he had lost some of the sharpness and clarity that defined the early part of his 2025 campaign. Even so, he highlighted noticeable progress from the previous year and expressed genuine satisfaction with his overall growth.
