Jannik Sinner’s title defense is still perfect. On Wednesday night at Rod Laver Arena, the two-time defending champion shut the doors on Ben Shelton’s big serve and bigger swings, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes to reach the Australian Open 2026 semi-finals. The Italian, unbeaten in Melbourne since 2023, will face 10-time champion Novak Djokovic next in a blockbuster last-four clash.

This was a clean, composed performance from a player who knows this court and these moments. Sinner controlled the pace early, managed the rough spots in the middle, and finished with authority—championship habits that have carried him deep into yet another major.

Fast start: Sinner lands 18 winners, 4 errors

Sinner made his intent clear from the first ball. He stepped inside the baseline, took time away, and lit up the first set with 18 winners against just 4 unforced errors. That combination—early strike plus control—meant Shelton was reacting more than dictating.

With the Italian’s return glued to the baseline, the American’s first-strike rhythm never fully settled. The breaks were earned, not gifted, and the scoreboard read 6-3 before Shelton could find a run of points.

“Sinner’s timing is so early that big servers look rushed—and then rushed again.”

Second set: Shelton’s window closes at 0/3 on break points

If there was a door for Shelton to push open, it came in set two. He carved out three break points but converted none, and the pressure swung back on him. In chasing the lines, his error count climbed to 17 in the set.

Sinner, by contrast, kept his serve solid and patterns simple—find the forehand early, change height and pace, and make the American hit one more ball. The difference at this level is often small. Here, it was a few missed chances and a few extra Sinner first strikes.

“Shelton’s Plan A is scary good, but against elite returners, you need Plan B and C.”

Third set: One late break, sealed by a double fault

Set three was tight on the scoreboard until the key moment. At 15/40 in the ninth game, Shelton double-faulted, and that was the crack Sinner needed. He served it out 6-4, finishing a straight-sets sweep that felt steady and professional from first point to last.

The match stats tell the tale of control and composure: Sinner didn’t allow rhythm on return games and protected his own serve when it mattered most.

Head-to-head and major trend: Sinner owns the matchup

After this quarter-final, Sinner leads Shelton in their rivalry by a wide margin—listed as 9–1 on some sites (and 8–1 on others). However you score it, the pattern is clear, especially at the Slams. All four of their major meetings have gone to Sinner, twice in Australia and twice at Wimbledon. The matchup favors the Italian’s early return position and his flatter, straighter backhand through the court.

There’s also the broader American trend: Sinner is now 18–0 against U.S. opponents at the majors. He does not let power tennis rush him into mistakes; he absorbs, redirects, and then takes the first short ball to flip defense into offense.

Road to the quarters: serving numbers set the stage

Both players arrived with confidence. Sinner dismissed Luciano Darderi in the previous round 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(7), serving at 72% and firing 19 aces. Shelton powered past Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 with a 66% first-serve rate and 14 aces. The American’s serve has been a force all fortnight, but Sinner’s return and first-strike patterns again proved the steadier formula when the rallies stretched.

• Match time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
• Score: 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
• Set one: Sinner 18 winners, 4 unforced errors
• Set two: Shelton 17 unforced errors, 0/3 on break points
• Set three: Key break at 15/40 via Shelton double fault in the ninth game

“Clinical from Sinner. Not flashy, just brutal in the big moments—that’s champion tennis.”

What it means: a ninth Slam semi and a Melbourne streak

This win puts Sinner into his ninth Grand Slam semi-final and his third at the Australian Open. He is chasing a rare three-peat in Melbourne and has not lost at this event since 2023. That kind of streak builds belief. It also builds a playbook—when to push, when to hold, and how to keep the points on your terms late in sets.

On a night where he didn’t need top gear for long stretches, Sinner still hit the high notes on cue. That is often the sign of a champion: winning straight sets without dipping when the door opens for the opponent.

Next: Novak Djokovic—and a heavyweight semi-final

Now comes Novak Djokovic, the 10-time king of Melbourne. The twist? Sinner has beaten Djokovic in their last three Grand Slam semi-finals—Australian Open 2024, Roland Garros 2025, and Wimbledon 2025. That run flips the script and gives this semi a true edge.

Djokovic’s record on Rod Laver Arena is unmatched, but Sinner has built a modern blueprint that troubles him: early returns, fearless baseline depth, and a calm finish on big points. Their meeting will be a test of Sinner’s current rule over Melbourne versus Djokovic’s legendary history here. It is, simply, the match the tournament has been building toward.

If Sinner serves at the level he showed against Darderi (72% first serves, 19 aces) and keeps his return position as aggressive as it was tonight, he’ll force Djokovic into longer, more physical rallies. On the other side, Djokovic’s return and patterns will stress Sinner’s serve more than Shelton could. It’s the kind of chess match that defines eras.

Final word

Sinner brushed aside a dangerous opponent and kept his title charge on track. The numbers are tidy, the form is clean, and the belief is obvious. Against Djokovic, the margins will shrink, and the level will rise. That’s fine by Sinner. He has made Rod Laver Arena feel like home for three seasons now—calm, certain, and always ready for the next big point.

Get ready for a semi-final that blends the past and the present of men’s tennis. Sinner’s streak meets Djokovic’s throne. Melbourne will decide the rest.