Sinner Sets Up Djokovic Showdown After Quarterfinal Thrillers

The Australian Open quarter-finals delivered a whirlwind of drama, upsets, and high-octane tennis on January 28, 2026, as fans packed the iconic Rod Laver Arena for a slate of matches that will be talked about for years to come. From Elena Rybakina’s clinical takedown of Iga Swiatek to Jannik Sinner’s relentless pursuit of a third straight title, the day was a showcase of athletic brilliance and sheer determination.

Let’s start with the headline act: Jannik Sinner, the Italian second seed, continued his remarkable run in Melbourne by dispatching American Ben Shelton in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Sinner’s victory, achieved in two hours and 25 minutes, marks his sixth consecutive semi-final appearance at a major and keeps his dream of a third consecutive Australian Open crown very much alive. The Italian’s performance was described by many as imperious, with Sinner raising his level at every critical juncture. According to match reports, Shelton came out swinging, creating a break point and pushing Sinner to deuce in the Italian’s opening two service games. But the world no.2, undeterred, broke Shelton in the fourth game and never looked back, closing out the first set with a flourish.

In the second set, Sinner again broke early, establishing a 2-1 lead. Shelton, ranked seventh in the world, refused to roll over, saving three break points and showing the kind of grit that’s made him a fan favorite. Still, Sinner’s consistency proved too much, as he served out the set and maintained control. There was a brief moment of concern for the Italian late in the second set, with Sinner appearing to have some vision issues, but he quickly shrugged them off. Shelton, ever the fighter, pumped himself up after saving two break points to hold serve at 3-2, but a costly double fault in the final set handed Sinner the crucial break at 5-4. The Italian then served out the match to secure his place in the last four.

“I tried to stay focused and play my game. Ben’s a tough opponent and he pushed me hard, especially at the start,” Sinner said after the match, capturing the respect the American has earned on tour. The win sets up a blockbuster semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic, who advanced after Lorenzo Musetti’s withdrawal. Djokovic, the fourth seed, was trailing Musetti two sets to love before the Italian retired with the score at 4-6, 3-6, 3-1 in Djokovic’s favor. The circumstances around Musetti’s retirement weren’t immediately clear, but the Serbian legend will take the lifeline as he eyes yet another Grand Slam final.

Elsewhere on Rod Laver Arena, the women’s draw produced its own fireworks. Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan’s fifth seed, stunned the world no.2 Iga Swiatek with a ruthless 7-5, 6-1 victory. Rybakina’s aggressive baseline game and pinpoint serving left Swiatek searching for answers, especially in a second set that zipped by in just over half an hour. Rybakina’s win cements her status as a genuine contender for the title, and with her confidence soaring, she’ll be a player to watch in the semi-finals.

American fans had reason to cheer as Jessica Pegula, seeded sixth, ousted compatriot Amanda Anisimova (seeded fourth) in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1). Pegula’s performance was a masterclass in composure, as she dominated the first set and then held her nerve in a tense second-set tiebreak. “I just tried to stay aggressive and not let the moment get too big,” Pegula told reporters. Her victory propels her into the next round with momentum and belief.

The doubles courts were no less dramatic. On Margaret Court Arena, the American-British duo of Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski, both seeded sixth, cruised past the Czech pair Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl, 6-2, 6-3. Meanwhile, Luke Johnson of Great Britain and Jan Zielinski of Poland pulled off a notable upset, defeating the fourth-seeded team of Marcelo Arevalo (El Salvador) and Mate Pavic (Croatia) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. In a thrilling mixed doubles encounter, Australia’s Olivia Gadecki and John Peers edged out the fourth-seeded American-Croatian pair of Taylor Townsend and Nikola Mektic in a marathon 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 13-11 battle that had the home crowd roaring.

On the women’s doubles side, Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) and Luisa Stefani (Brazil), both seeded fifth, toppled the third-seeded pair of Su-Wei Hsieh (Taiwan) and Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5). The French team of Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard also made headlines, outlasting the second-seeded Luisa Stefani and Marcelo Arevalo 6-2, 3-6, 10-7 in a topsy-turvy match.

ANZ Arena saw more upsets, with Elise Mertens (Belgium) and Shuai Zhang (China), both seeded fourth, rallying from a set down to defeat Eri Hozumi (Japan) and Fang-Hsien Wu (Taiwan) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Anna Danilina (Kazakhstan) and Aleksandra Krunic (Serbia), seeded seventh, stunned the top-seeded team of Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic) and Taylor Townsend (United States) 6-2, 3-6, 6-0. Marcel Granollers (Spain) and Horacio Zeballos (Argentina), seeded third, advanced smoothly past the Brazilian duo Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos, 6-3, 6-4.

With the semi-finals looming, anticipation is sky-high for the Sinner-Djokovic showdown. Sinner, chasing history with a third consecutive title, faces a rejuvenated Djokovic who’s never one to waste a second chance. On the women’s side, Rybakina’s demolition of Swiatek has thrown the draw wide open, while Pegula’s steady hand could see her make a deep run.

As the dust settles on a day packed with surprises and statement wins, the Australian Open’s final stages promise even more intrigue. With legends and rising stars alike still in the hunt, fans can expect the drama to only intensify from here. The next chapter unfolds Friday, and if the quarter-finals are any indication, tennis lovers are in for a treat.