Australian Open Day 9: Ben Shelton beats Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek advances to quarterfinals

Shelton rallies past Ruud to reach the last eight

Ben Shelton advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday, January 26, 2026, after recovering from a slow start to defeat Casper Ruud in four sets. The Guardian’s live coverage said Shelton lost the first set before turning the match around with aggressive serving patterns, quick transitions forward, and improved baseline control as the contest progressed.

The report highlighted Shelton’s effectiveness at the net and his ability to pressure Ruud’s defense, giving him a pathway to shorten points and keep momentum. With the victory, Shelton set up a quarterfinal meeting with Jannik Sinner, who also advanced with a straight-sets win over Luciano Darderi.

Swiatek cruises and sets up a major quarterfinal

On the women’s side, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek continued her steady run by beating local qualifier Maddison Inglis. The Guardian described a dominant first set followed by a controlled second set, with Swiatek’s consistency and pace proving too much despite Inglis’s energized moments in front of the home crowd.

Swiatek is scheduled to face Elena Rybakina next, a matchup expected to draw significant attention because it pits Swiatek’s relentless return game and rally tolerance against Rybakina’s power and first-strike serving patterns. The same day’s results also underscored how many top seeds were still alive deep into the tournament.

What to watch heading into the quarterfinals

With the draw narrowing, the focus shifts from survival to matchups: who can hold serve under pressure, who can absorb pace in longer rallies, and who can manage the mental swings that come with late-round Grand Slam tennis. For Shelton, the challenge will be sustaining his attacking efficiency against elite defense; for Swiatek, it will be handling a higher-powered opponent with fewer openings.

The quarterfinals typically expose any physical wear accumulated over the first week, making recovery and tactical clarity as important as shot-making. Monday’s results positioned several marquee names for high-stakes clashes as the tournament’s final weekend approaches.