Australian Open Day 9: Shelton rallies past Ruud as Swiatek cruises into the quarterfinals
Ben Shelton fought back from a set down to beat Casper Ruud and book a showdown with Jannik Sinner, while Iga Swiatek powered through Maddison Inglis to reach the last eight. The results continued a tournament trend of top seeds holding firm deep into the second week in Melbourne.
- Published
- Updated
Top seeds continued to advance at the Australian Open on Monday, January 26, 2026, with major wins in both the men’s and women’s draws shaping the quarterfinal picture. Day 9 delivered a mix of power tennis and clean, clinical execution, as several contenders tightened their grip on the tournament heading into the final stretch.
In the men’s draw, Ben Shelton recovered from a first-set loss to defeat Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. The Guardian’s live coverage highlighted Shelton’s aggressive approach and repeated success moving forward, using pace and athleticism to turn the match after Ruud’s early control. The win sends Shelton into a high-profile quarterfinal against Jannik Sinner.
Sinner advanced with a straight-sets victory over Luciano Darderi, navigating a tightening third set to close out the match. The result set up a stylistic contrast: Shelton’s explosive serve-and-forward pressure versus Sinner’s baseline stability and controlled aggression, a matchup that promises high tempo and short reaction windows.
On the women’s side, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek delivered a commanding performance, defeating local qualifier Maddison Inglis 6-0, 6-3. Swiatek’s first set was nearly flawless, and although Inglis found moments to lift the crowd in Rod Laver Arena, Swiatek’s consistency and depth repeatedly shut down rallies before they could swing.
Swiatek’s next test is expected to be far more demanding, with a quarterfinal meeting against Elena Rybakina. With heavier ball-striking and fewer free points available against Rybakina’s serve, Swiatek will likely need the same early scoreboard pressure she used against Inglis—while also withstanding faster, flatter exchanges.
Beyond the individual matchups, the day reinforced a broader theme in Melbourne this year: the top of the draws has been unusually stable deep into the tournament. As the quarterfinals take shape, that concentration of seeded talent increases the likelihood of marquee, high-quality clashes where small dips in level can decide sets quickly.