Tennis fans are glued to Rod Laver Arena as defending champion Jannik Sinner faces American big‑server Ben Shelton in a blockbuster men’s quarter‑final at the Australian Open 2026.
Match: Jannik Sinner (ITA, World No. 2) vs Ben Shelton (USA, 8‑seed)
Round: Men’s Singles Quarter‑final
Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Session: Night session (main show on centre court)
🗣 Match Context & Head‑to‑Head
Sinner enters this clash as one of the favorites to win the title — he’s the two‑time defending Australian Open champion and has dominated Shelton historically, holding an 8‑1 lead in their head‑to‑head meetings.
Shelton, meanwhile, is riding confidence after a strong fourth‑round win over Casper Ruud, staging a comeback to win in four sets.
The American says his game “is different” this time and believes his improved all‑court play gives him a real shot at an upset.
🎾 Live Scores & Play‑by‑Play (Ongoing)
As the match unfolds, here’s how to keep track:
📊 Live Score Sources
Official Australian Open Live Blog: most comprehensive play‑by‑play and key points.
ESPN & Tennis Broadcasters: live score updates on TV/stream apps.
Flashscore / SofaScore: real‑time scoring with set/game updates.
📻 LIVE Radio & Streaming
📺 TV / Streaming
ESPN / ESPN2: broadcasts available for many regions, including simulcast of live scoring and commentary.
Official Australian Open streaming: offered through AO website and regional partners.
Discovery+, Sony LIV, TNT Sports: broadcasting in select territories (availability varies by region).
💡 Tip: In Australia, Channel 9 and Stan Sport typically offer live video & commentary streams.
🔊 Radio & Audio
Many sports radio networks carry live tennis commentary, especially for Grand Slam quarter‑finals. Users can check local sports radio or AO’s official audio feed for live updates.
🏆 What’s at Stake
Sinner: aims to continue his dominance in Melbourne and solidify his status as one of the sport’s premier players.
Shelton: is chasing his first Grand Slam semi‑final breakthrough and aims to upset a perennial title contender.
This quarter‑final is among the key matches on Day 11 of the tournament, alongside the likes of Djokovic vs Musetti and top women’s singles clashes.
📍 Key Notes
Sinner’s strong consistency — he’s advanced deep into every recent Grand Slam and won significantly more head‑to‑head meetings with Shelton.
Shelton’s attitude and evolution — reported improvements in his net game and confidence could make this a closer battle.
For full match details, live point updates, commentary and in‑match stats, follow the official Australian Open live score service or major sports broadcasters.
