Australian Open 2026 Quarterfinal Highlights: Djokovic and Sinner Advance

The 2026 Australian Open quarterfinals at Rod Laver Arena delivered a day of stark contrasts: clinical dominance, veteran resilience, and heartbreaking drama. As the dust settled on Wednesday, the semifinal stage was set with a mix of familiar royalty and determined contenders, headlined by Jannik Sinner’s relentless march toward a “three-peat” and a devastating end to Lorenzo Musetti’s dream run against Novak Djokovic.

Men’s Singles: Sinner Cruises, Djokovic Survives a Scare

Sinner’s Mastery Continues

World No. 2 and two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner sent a terrifying message to the remaining field with a surgical 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 dismantling of Ben Shelton.

The matchup, billed as a clash between Shelton’s thunderous serve and Sinner’s elastic return, quickly turned one-sided. Sinner, looking to secure his third consecutive title in Melbourne, neutralized the American’s biggest weapon with eerie calm. Breaking Shelton once in each set, the Italian extended his winning streak over the No. 8 seed to nine consecutive matches.

“I knew Ben would come out firing, so my focus was just to touch as many balls as possible,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “To win in straight sets here, against a server like him, it gives me a lot of confidence for what’s coming next.”

Heartbreak for Musetti, Escape for Djokovic

The afternoon session provided the tournament’s most dramatic—and tragic—turn. Novak Djokovic, the No. 4 seed and 24-time Grand Slam champion, advanced to the semifinals after Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire in the third set.

For two hours, the 23-year-old Italian played the match of his life. Musetti, showcasing the flair that propelled him to the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2025, outplayed Djokovic from the baseline to lead 6-4, 6-3. He was mixing looping topspin with flattened backhands that left the Serbian veteran visibly frustrated.

However, disaster struck early in the third set. While chasing down a drop shot, Musetti pulled up sharply, clutching his right thigh. Despite a medical timeout and a valiant attempt to continue, his movement was gone. Trailing 1-3 in the third, a tearful Musetti approached the net to shake hands, conceding the match to Djokovic.

“This is not the way I wanted to win,” Djokovic admitted to the stunned crowd, opting out of his usual celebration. “Lorenzo was the better player for two sets. He had me on the ropes. I feel terrible for him because he showed today he belongs on the biggest stages. I wish him a speedy recovery.”

Djokovic’s survival sets up a tantalizing semifinal showdown against Sinner—a rematch of the 2024 semifinal that signaled the changing of the guard.

Women’s Singles: Rybakina and Pegula Power Through

Rybakina Freezes Out Swiatek

In the day’s marquee women’s clash, Elena Rybakina (No. 5) reminded the world why her game is perfectly suited for the fast courts of Melbourne, ousting World No. 2 Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1.

The first set was a tight tactical battle, with Swiatek trying to move Rybakina side-to-side. But at 5-5, Rybakina unleashed a barrage of forehand winners to break the Polish star’s resistance. The second set was a procession; Rybakina’s serve became untouchable, and Swiatek’s error count mounted under the pressure of the Kazakh’s flat hitting.

“I know Iga fights for every point, so the key was to stay aggressive and not let her dictate,” Rybakina said. “Once I got the first set, I felt I could swing freely. It’s great to be back in the semis here.”

Pegula Halts Anisimova’s Resurgence

Jessica Pegula (No. 6) booked her spot in the final four with a composed 6-2, 7-6(1) victory over Amanda Anisimova.

Anisimova, the No. 4 seed who has enjoyed a stunning career revival over the last 18 months, struggled to find her range early against Pegula’s flat, redirecting pace. While Anisimova fought back to force a second-set tiebreak, Pegula locked down in the decider, surrendering only one point to close out the match in 1 hour and 35 minutes.

“It’s been a long journey to get back to this position,” said the 31-year-old Pegula, who is still chasing her elusive maiden Slam. “Amanda hits the ball so hard, I just had to trust my legs and keep making her play one more ball. I’m thrilled to get through in two.”

Semifinal Outlook

The stage is now set for a blockbuster Friday. On the men’s side, the “Master vs. The Apprentice” narrative returns as Djokovic tries to halt the Sinner era. For the women, it will be a battle of first-strike tennis as Rybakina takes on the ultra-consistent Pegula, with both eyeing the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.