When it comes to the world of tennis, dominance isn’t just about winning—it’s about commanding the stage with authority and leaving little doubt as to who’s in charge. At the 2026 Australian Open, Jannik Sinner is exemplifying both with every match he plays. The reigning champion sent yet another clear message to the competition: he is not here merely to defend his crown, but to conquer anew.
A clash of power and precision: Sinner vs. Shelton
The much-anticipated quarterfinal clash between Sinner and Ben Shelton had all the makings of a dramatic showdown. Yet, it quickly became a lesson in near-perfection from the Italian star. Sinner, seeded No. 2, wasted no time asserting his superiority, dispatching the No. 8 seed with a ruthless 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory. Shelton, who had dropped only a single set en route to his third quarterfinal appearance in Melbourne, found himself stifled by Sinner’s relentless pressure.
What made this battle especially intriguing was Shelton’s reputation for explosive power—yet Sinner knew exactly how to blunt that threat. The Italian frequently targeted Shelton’s backhand, probing for weaknesses and dictating the tempo with ferocity on his own forehand wing. The outcome? Sinner’s ninth win in ten Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with Shelton, all while maintaining his spotless Grand Slam streak against the American.
Shelton’s struggles and Sinner’s mastery
Curiosity peaks when considering how Shelton, despite his athleticism and recent success, failed to turn the tide. Incredibly, all four of their Grand Slam meetings—including two at the Australian Open and two at Wimbledon—have gone in Sinner’s favor.
Key moments from their encounter include:
- Sinner’s scintillating backhand pass around the net in the third game, signaling his arrival on Rod Laver Arena.
- A critical break of serve following a Shelton forehand error in the opening set.
- A dominant winners-to-unforced-errors tally (18-4) in Set 1, setting the stage for Sinner’s confidence.
Composure under fire: turning defense into offense
It’s often said that champions are made in moments of crisis, but Sinner seemed immune from such peril in this match. Even as Shelton pressed for opportunities, the world No. 2 stood resolute. Throughout the second set, Shelton squandered three break chances and committed 17 unforced errors, while Sinner simply tightened his grip on the match.
The third set brought fleeting hope for the American, but Sinner capitalized on a crucial double fault from Shelton to break in the decisive game—then coolly served out the match after 2 hours and 23 minutes.
Numbers worth noting:
- Sinner extended his unbeaten Grand Slam record against Americans to 18 matches.
- His Australian Open resume now features a 6-2 record against Top 10 opponents, having only faltered against Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2022 and 2023.
Eyes on a historic showdown: Djokovic awaits
Having secured his ninth career Grand Slam semifinal—and his third at the Australian Open—Sinner’s next obstacle looms large. Awaiting him is Novak Djokovic, the undisputed “King of Melbourne” with a record 10 Australian Open titles. Yet, history is on Sinner’s side as well; the Italian famously toppled Djokovic in three consecutive semifinals at major tournaments: Australian Open 2024, Roland Garros 2025, and Wimbledon 2025.