This was the second time the American advanced to the last four of a major, after the 2023 US Open.

But Shelton’s straight-sets defeat to eventual champion Jannik Sinner showed he has some work to do to make a breakthrough at the highest level against the ATP Tour’s top players, and Connors has advised how he can help with this.

Jimmy Connors tells Ben Shelton how he can improve after Australian Open exit

Ben Shelton made more than 61% of his first serves in all but two of his matches at the 2025 Australian Open.

One of those matches came in his semi-final against Sinner, he made his first serve just 59% of the time, and he failed to serve for the first set while leading 6-5.

Shelton also made an alarming 55 unforced errors and mentally he was unable to stay with the Italian who cruised to a 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 win.

Speaking about his performance on his ‘Advantage Connors’ podcast, eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors advised Shelton on how he can topple the top players.

“He should have confidence but he has to get a little more – not very high highs and the low lows,” the 72-year-old said.

“He has to find his happy medium of what it takes to win and improve on that. If he can find that consistency and try to avoid the losses to quite a bit below him.

“Because you know he can play against the guys who are above him because you know he gets up for that and raises his game.

“But he has got to walk out there and no matter who he plays he has to reach that as good as I can be level. If he can do that and find his consistency with the big game that he has, he should be okay.”

Ben Shelton back in ATP Tour’s top 15 after Australian Open semi-final run

After Shelton reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open he received a rankings boost.

He is back inside the world’s top 15 after rising six places when the latest edition of the ATP rankings was released on Monday.

Shelton is now the American’s World number three after leapfrogging Frances Tiafoe who suffered a second-round exit at the Australian Open.

Their compatriot Tommy Paul has entered the top 10 for the first time following his quarter-final run at Melbourne Park.

He ranked at number nine, while Taylor Fritz remains number four despite an early exit at the first Grand Slam of the season.

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