The Italian will be tough to stop, considering he extended his winning streak to 20 matches – all on hard courts – and defeated Zverev despite a questionable hip in a three-hour marathon in the rain in Cincinnati last August.
The world No. 2 – winner earlier on Friday when ten-time champion Novak Djokovic retired due to his hamstring injury – does, however, hold a winning record against Sinner on aggregate, 4-2.
“We have had very difficult matches in the past,” Sinner said of Zverev.
“Anything can happen. He is an incredible player, looking for his first major tournament. There’s still going to be a lot of tension but I’m happy to (put) myself in this position.
Sinner won his previous four matches against Shelton, the demonstrative southpaw who once again donned a sleeveless shirt and bandana.
The American made his breakthrough by reaching the quarter-finals of the AO 2023 and then confirmed it at the Grand Slam tournaments, notably with a semi-final place at both the US Open and now at Melbourne Park.
