Ben Shelton says if he thinks he’s actually improving after defeat to Jannik Sinner in straight sets

Ben Shelton says he is ‘getting better’ despite Australian Open exit

The Italian has won all four of their Grand Slam meetings, having also recorded two victories at Wimbledon.

But when asked after this loss if he thinks he is getting closer to the top players, Shelton said: “Yeah, I think my level is better, and I’m getting better and better and becoming a lot less limited. I think this game takes time, and the results don’t always come when you want them.

“You know, I’m getting to the point now where I’m getting stopped up by the toughest challenge in the game for the most part, and I do think that I’m close to bringing it all together.

“I think it’s just going to take that one time where I do do it to kind of get me over the hump. It’s always been that way for me.

“Certainly not discouraged from a performance like this, but you know, I want to see myself get out in front and see what I can do from there in a match rather than falling behind just because I know how I feel when I get out in front at Slams. I feel like, you know, I’m untouchable. I guarantee the other guys at the top feel the exact same.

“So, for me, I think that, you know, it’s a matter of time and work just trying to put all the pieces together, because I’m not complete yet, but I feel myself becoming more complete.”

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz could continue Grand Slam dominance

Shelton is currently seventh in the world rankings, some way off world number one Carlos Alcaraz and second-placed Sinner.

The two Europeans have been dominating men’s tennis for some time now, each winning four of the last eight Grand Slam titles.

That is a trend that could very well continue, with Alcaraz joining Sinner in the last four of the Australian Open.

And a final between the duo is very much a possibility given that Alcaraz will play against Alexander Zverev, and Sinner will take on Novak Djokovic.