A semi-final against American Ben Shelton – the lowest-ranked player left in the draw – looms for Sinner, who will avoid 10-time champion Novak Djokovic and second seed Alexander Zverev in the last four. That draw and this performance has brought him tantalisingly close to defending his Australian Open crown.

Pressure is said to be a privilege, and this has never been lost on Alex de Minaur, but the world number eight has become accustomed to bearing the weight of expectation.

Defending champion and No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner easily dispatches host country's last hope; Ben Shelton takes on-court interviewers to task.

Alex de Minaur is through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time, defeating American giant-killer Alex Michelsen.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner dismissed eighth seed Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-2 6-1 to reach the Australian Open semi-finals and extend the country's decades-long wait for another homegrown singles winner at the Grand Slam on Wednesday.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner dismissed No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the Australian Open semifinals, where he will take on American Ben Shelton for a place in the final.