Novak Djokovic secured a straightforward advancement to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open after his fourth-round opponent, Jakub Menšík, withdrew due to an abdominal muscle injury. This fortunate turn of events granted Djokovic a walkover, allowing him to rest before his next challenge against fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti, who comfortably defeated ninth seed Taylor Fritz in straight sets.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner also advanced without major hurdles, defeating fellow Italian Luciano Darderi. Although Darderi managed to force a tiebreaker in their third set, Sinner maintained control to seal the victory.
American Ben Shelton has demonstrated impressive resilience, making it to the quarterfinals for the third time in four years. After dropping the first set to Casper Ruud, the 23-year-old bounced back powerfully, delivering 14 aces and winning 83 percent of his first-service points to clinch the match with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
As the tournament progresses, the men’s singles quarterfinals feature a mostly predictable lineup, with seven of the top eight seeds still competing. The draw is as follows:
– No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz vs. No. 6 Alex de Minaur
– No. 3 Alexander Zverev vs. No. 25 Learner Tien
– No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti vs. No. 4 Novak Djokovic
– No. 8 Ben Shelton vs. No. 2 Jannik Sinner
Learner Tien, ranked 25th, stands out as an unexpected contender, having upset 11th seed Daniil Medvedev to reach his inaugural Grand Slam quarterfinal. Tien will go up against Alexander Zverev, a rematch of their previous encounters, which have seen both players triumph in their respective meetings.
With a thrilling lineup ahead, the excitement builds as the tournament nears its climax, showcasing the resilience and talent of the participating athletes.