The 2026 Australian Open quarterfinals delivered high drama and decisive victories as Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Jessica Pegula, and Elena Rybakina advanced to the semifinals. With dominant performances, historic breakthroughs, and unexpected twists, the tournament now heads into its final stages, promising thrilling battles at Melbourne Park for both men’s and women’s draws.
Sinner books semifinal against Djokovic
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner continued his remarkable run at Melbourne Park, defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to secure a place in the Australian Open semifinals. The two-time defending champion extended his winning streak to 19 matches at the tournament and 22 consecutive sets against Shelton, setting up a highly anticipated clash with Novak Djokovic.
Sinner, contesting his ninth Grand Slam semifinal and third at the Australian Open, showcased his trademark composure and precision. He dominated the opening set with an 18–4 winners-to-errors ratio and maintained control in the second, capitalizing on Shelton’s inconsistency. Shelton, who had impressed en route to his third Australian Open quarterfinal, struggled to find rhythm and missed crucial opportunities, including three break points in the second set.
Despite appearing physically strained late in the second set, Sinner regained momentum in the third. A double fault from Shelton at 15/40 in the ninth game handed the Italian the decisive break. Sinner closed out the match after two hours and 25 minutes, continuing his flawless record against Shelton in major tournaments.
Djokovic advances after Musetti retires
Novak Djokovic, a ten-time Australian Open champion, progressed to his 13th semifinal in dramatic fashion after Lorenzo Musetti retired with a right leg injury despite leading by two sets. The Italian had stunned the Rod Laver Arena crowd by taking the first two sets 6-4, 6-3 with confident serving and sharp baseline play.
Musetti appeared poised for a career-defining upset, but injury struck in the third game of the third set. Though he attempted to continue after receiving physio treatment, the fifth seed was forced to retire at 1-2, ending his spirited challenge after two hours and eight minutes.
Djokovic, who became only the third man to play 1,400 tour-level matches by stepping onto court, thus advanced as the second-oldest player in the Open Era to reach the Australian Open semifinals. The Serbian had earlier benefitted from Jakub Mensik’s withdrawal in the fourth round, and now prepares for a blockbuster semifinal against Sinner.
Pegula breaks Melbourne barrier
Jessica Pegula finally overcame her Australian Open quarterfinal hurdle, defeating compatriot Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6(1) to reach her maiden semifinal in Melbourne. The World No. 6, who had previously fallen short in four quarterfinal appearances, delivered a commanding performance in the all-American clash.
Pegula controlled the opening set with depth and accuracy, breaking Anisimova twice to take a 6-2 lead. The second set proved more challenging as Anisimova raised her level, forcing Pegula to save match points and push the contest into a tiebreak. Pegula, however, was flawless in the decider, sealing victory in one hour and 35 minutes.
Her triumph marked a historic milestone, as she became the first American woman in over three decades to defeat three compatriots in a single Australian Open, following earlier wins over McCartney Kessler and defending champion Madison Keys. Pegula extended her unbeaten record against Anisimova to 4–0 and her streak of Grand Slam victories over American opponents to eight. She now faces Elena Rybakina in the semifinals.
Rybakina stuns Swiatek with dominant display
Elena Rybakina produced one of the standout performances of the tournament, dismantling World No. 2 Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 in their quarterfinal clash. The Kazakh fifth seed, known for her sustained power and precision, denied Swiatek’s bid for a career Grand Slam in a commanding 93-minute display.
After trading early breaks, Rybakina found her rhythm, winning eight of the last nine games to level her head-to-head record against Swiatek at 6-6. Despite landing only 49% of her first serves, Rybakina dominated behind her delivery, losing just 12 points in eight service games after recovering from a 0-40 deficit in the opening set.
Swiatek, the youngest player since Serena Williams in 2003 to reach six consecutive major quarterfinals, was unable to withstand Rybakina’s relentless pace. The Kazakh star, unbeaten at last year’s WTA Finals, extended her winning streak to 18 of her last 19 matches and notched her eighth consecutive victory over a Top 10 opponent.