2026 Australian Open

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Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Sinner to subdue Shelton in straights

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Tue 27 Jan 2026 23:17

Andrew Hendrie 27 Jan 2026

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Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton predictions for Wednesday's Australian Open quarter-final
Sinner has dominated Shelton, winning the last eight meetings in straight sets
There's good value on an opening set tiebreak - it's landed in half of the last eight clashes
The match is scheduled to start at 7.00pm AEDT on Wednesday January 28

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Jannik Sinner (Photo by Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

Jannik Sinner is just three wins away from a third straight Australian Open title as he prepares to confront a confident Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night.

Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Sinner vs Shelton Stats & Trends
Sinner vs Shelton Head To Head
Jannik Sinner Form Analysis
Ben Shelton Form Analysis
Sinner vs Shelton Live Stream

Novak Djokovic is the only man in the Open Era to have won three consecutive Australian Open titles. Sinner remains very much the favourite to join him over the next few days in Melbourne, despite a somewhat shaky last two rounds, where he was once again affected by the heat and suffering from cramps and physical issues. But, as he usually does, Sinner found a way and now he gets a night match in favourable conditions against a player he has dominated in the past. Shelton is as confident as they come and always lifts on the big stage, producing some thunderous tennis this Australian Open to return to the last eight. The American's serve is arguably the best in the game and he's improved his baseline level, especially on the backhand wing.

However, even with that improvement, I just can't see Shelton consistently hanging with Sinner in baseline exchanges on slow-ish hardcourt inside Rod Laver Arena. Especially when Sinner changes direction and hits his backhand down the line to Shelton's left-handed backhand. I think there's good value here for another Sinner straight sets victory in this matchup, while there's also value in a first set tiebreak, which has occurred in half of their last eight meetings.

Sinner vs Shelton Stats & Trends

Sinner has won 96 of his last 102 hardcourt matches
Sinner's last loss in a completed hardcourt match to someone other than Alcaraz was in 2024
Sinner is on an 18-match winning streak at the Australian Open
Thirteen of Sinner's last 14 victories have been in straight sets
All eight of Sinner's wins over Shelton have been in straight sets
Sinner's last six wins over top 10 players at Grand Slams other than Alcaraz have been in straight sets
Shelton is 0-5 vs top five players at Grand Slams, losing four of those in straight sets
Eight of the nine previous meetings between the pair have seen at least one tiebreak
Four of the last eight meetings between the pair have seen a first set tiebreak

Sinner vs Shelton Head To Head

Sinner leads 8-1, losing the pair's first ever encounter in Shanghai three years ago before going on a current eight-match winning run.

Year	Tournament	Round	Surface	Winner	Score
2025	ATP Finals (Turin)	Round Robin	Indoor Hard	Jannik Sinner	6–3, 7–6(3)
2025	Paris Masters	Quarter-final	Indoor Hard	Jannik Sinner	6–3, 6–3
2025	Wimbledon	Quarter-final	Grass	Jannik Sinner	7–6(2), 6–4, 6–4
2025	Australian Open	Semi-final	Hard	Jannik Sinner	7–6(2), 6–2, 6–2
2024	Shanghai Masters	Round of 16	Hard	Jannik Sinner	6–4, 7–6(1)
2024	Wimbledon	Round of 16	Grass	Jannik Sinner	6–2, 6–4, 7–6(9)
2024	Indian Wells Masters	Round of 16	Hard	Jannik Sinner	7–6(4), 6–1
2023	Vienna Open	Round of 32	Indoor Hard	Jannik Sinner	7–6(2), 7–5
2023	Shanghai Masters	Round of 32	Hard	Ben Shelton	2–6, 6–3, 7–6(5)

Jannik Sinner Form Analysis

2026 Form: 4-0
Australian Open Record: 26-4
Grand Slam Record: 91-20
Current Ranking: No. 2
Career-High Ranking: No. 1 (2024)

Road to Australian Open quarter-finals

Round	Opponent	Score
1st Round	Hugo Gaston	6–2, 3–0 ret.
2nd Round	James Duckworth	6–1, 6–4, 6–2
3rd Round	Eliot Spizzirri	4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
4th Round	Luciano Darderi	6–1, 6–3, 7–6(2)

Despite a three-month suspension, it was another successful 2025 for Sinner, who picked up two more major titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, along with securing the year-end ATP Finals silverware in Turin.

However, he did suffer some heartbreaking defeats to rival Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros and US Open finals, relinquishing the No. 1 ranking as a result.

In saying that, Sinner has a great chance to return to No. 1 over the next few months as he has zero points to defend after the Australian Open, where he is more than on track for a third consecutive title.

But that's not to say there hasn't been some major scares - Sinner was arguably on course for a seismic upset in the third round against Eliot Spizziri, trailing by a break in the third after splitting the first two sets. The heat rule saved the Italian as the roof was closed and he was close to full body cramps, with Sinner returning in cooler conditions to close out the match in four.

Sinner again found himself in sweltering conditions in his fourth round clash with countryman Luciano Darderi, but survived a gruelling third set, edging it in a tiebreak. The defending champion was again impressive on serve, firing down 19 aces - a personal best.

Ben Shelton Form Analysis

2026 Record: 5-1
Australian Open Record: 15-3
Grand Slam Record: 36-13
Current Ranking: No. 7
Career-High Ranking: No. 5 (August 2025)

Road to Australian Open quarter-finals

Round	Opponent	Score
1st Round	Ugo Humbert	6–3, 7–6(2), 7–6(5)
2nd Round	Dane Sweeny	6–3, 6–2, 6–2
3rd Round	Valentin Vacherot	6–4, 6–4, 7–6(5)
4th Round	Casper Ruud	3–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4

Shelton hit his career-high ranking of No. 5 after winning his maiden Masters 1000 title in Canada last year, but he was cruelly struck down by injury, which caused him to retire at the US Open.

However, Shelton is back to full fitness and has continued his stellar record at the Australian Open, where he has now won 15 of his 18 career matches.

The American has one of the toughest possible opening round opponents in Ugo Humbert, but locked in to prevail in straights before easing past Aussie qualifier Dane Sweeny.

Shelton was again impressive in a straight sets dispatch of Valentin Vacherot before recovering from a set down to conquer Casper Ruud in the R16, winning an astonishing 29 of 30 net points as he gradually overpowered the Norwegian to make a third Australian Open quarter-final from four appearances.

Sinner vs Shelton Live Stream

Watch and bet on Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton live Australian Open tennis.

You can watch and bet on the match live at Unibet > Tennis > Australian Open with the action available to stream on desktop and mobile.

Geo-restrictions apply, you'll need a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to gain access. 18+ terms and conditions apply.

Verdict

Jannik Sinner v Ben Shelton

Sinner has won the last eight meetings between the pair in straight sets and there's no reason to expect anything different here. Good value on an opening set tiebreak.

Sinner 3-0

Set Betting

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