Australian Open 2026 LIVE updates: Shelton sets up Sinner showdown; The surprise reward for qualifier Inglis; Musetti continues Italian dominance

Ben Shelton surges into the quarter-finals.

He finished the match in style, taking out the final set against Casper Ruud after a late break of serve. This was an impressive win. Shelton was up against it early but improved across the match.

Ben Shelton defeats Casper Ruud: 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4

Ben Shelton makes his move in the seventh game of the fourth set. He can smell the victory now.

Only a couple of games away, this will be an admirable win for the eighth seed, providing he doesn’t fall in a heap from here.

Ben Shelton leads Casper Ruud: 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-3

SWIATEK KNOCKS OUT INGLIS

Six-times grand slam title winner Iga Swiatek defeated Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis 6-0, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals as the second seed continues her hunt for a maiden Australian Open title.

SINNER STORMS PAST DARDERI

World No.2 Jannik Sinner was dominant in short rallies as he defeated his Italian compatriot Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) to ease his way through to the quarter-finals.

CLINICAL WIN FOR RYBAKINA

Fifth seed Elena Rybakina, a former finalist at Melbourne Park, stormed past 21st seed Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.

KYRGIOS EXITS AFTER MIXED DOUBLES DEFEAT

Nick Kyrgios and Leylah Fernandez lost 6-3 6-1 to James Tracy and Anna Danilina in the mixed doubles event at Melbourne Park. Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios, who did not play in the singles draw, was earlier knocked out in the first round of the men’s doubles alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis.

MUSETTI DEFEATS FRITZ

Italian fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti set up a quarter-final matchup against 10-times champion Novak Djokovic after a dominant 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win over American Taylor Fritz.

ANISIMOVA THROUGH TO QUARTERS

American Amanda Anisimova, a finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, booked a spot in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the first time with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 victory against China’s Wang Xinyu.

PEGULA OUSTS DEFENDING CHAMPION KEYS

Sixth seed Jessica Pegula reached the quarter-finals after a 6-3, 6-4 win over fellow American and defending champion Madison Keys.

Reuters

American Ben Shelton will serve next.

A remarkable stat just came up on the Channel Nine coverage – net points won. It shows how Shelton is getting the job done there tonight. The 23–year-old is going at 25/26 for points won at the net – a ridiculously good return.

The American broke in the final game of the set to secure it.

Ben Shelton leads Casper Ruud: 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-2

And there’s the consolidation. Ben Shelton holds serve and jumps to a two-sets-to-love lead against Casper Ruud. This match now has a new complexion about it – you’d feel that Shelton will race away with it in four sets.

In a matter of minutes, Ben Shelton has swung this match. The American has broken Casper Ruud in the all-important eighth game, and now has the chance to race to a two-sets-to-love advantage.

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