2026 Australian Open QF: [2] Jannik Sinner vs. [8] Ben Shelton

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Don’t underestimate Djokovic’s chances luck.

He used up all his vodoo magic this event. It not working on sinner! lol

 

[Terenigma]

I think there is, though not to reach their level, but to challenge and beat them. He has a monstrous serve and I'm surprised his team is not encouraging him to move forward more often, even if it means big number of S&V points. He can't beat them off the ground, so he needs another tactics like taking advantage of that big serve. At least he should try.

Serve and volley might help, Sinner absolutely prefers baseline bashing and has been shown to be exposed by drop-shots and volley type play so maybe that is an avenue Shelton can go down but I just don't think it will be enough. I keep expecting someone to adapt to them and learn how to beat them but more and more I just think they're just better than the rest of the top 10 at everything other than debatably serve and both Sinner/Alcaraz have good serves too!

 

[The_Order]

6-3 6-4 6-4

Is really Shelton the best the tier 2 has to offer today?

Today's "tier 2" would be like tier 4 about fifteen years ago

 

[tennis_pro]

Today's "tier 2" would be like tier 4 about fifteen years ago

In terms of what he's capable of I wouldn't put Shelton higher than Verdasco and I'm not even kidding. He's maybe like a more consistent Bautista-Agut.

 

[Fabrivitx]

Then you have Musetti - also injured. And then the creme de la creme of the best tier 2 players in Aliassime (also injured), Fritz, monster Shelton, de Minaur and a near 40-year old Djokovic who's so good he can go from the 3rd round to a Slam SF without winning a set.

If draper fonseca fils musetti mensik etc sort out they niggles they will be a very good tier crop

 

[Fabrivitx]

. On his backhand side he was making contact late anywhere from the level of his knees to above his forehead all match; no ability to adjust his feet to the pace of the incoming ball. Its crazy how high his ranking is. Against Sinner his serve doesn't even work because he doesn't hit his spots well but for most of the tour this dude is like karlovic.

Are we all blind and not understanding that Sinner is one of the best returner ever

 

[tennis_pro]

If draper fonseca fils musetti mensik etc sort out they niggles they will be a very good tier crop

wheres the nadal if if if gif

 

[ChrisRF]

Are we all blind and not understanding that Sinner is one of the best returner ever

Yeah, I often wonder what people expect. Shelton was only broken once per set. Did people expect he wouldn't be broken until a tiebreak or what? He has no real return game on the highest level, that's his problem.

But I would simply say he played to his abilities, not more and not less. And then people are being disappointed about a completely normal result and compensate their wrong expectations with hating.

 

[Martin J]

Serve and volley might help, Sinner absolutely prefers baseline bashing and has been shown to be exposed by drop-shots and volley type play so maybe that is an avenue Shelton can go down but I just don't think it will be enough. I keep expecting someone to adapt to them and learn how to beat them but more and more I just think they're just better than the rest of the top 10 at everything other than debatably serve and both Sinner/Alcaraz have good serves too!

Yeah, I don't expect from anyone to beat them regularly, but, as you said, at least they should try something different. May not be enough, but you can't beat them in the baseline contest, they are too good and consistent for that.

 

[RossiBhoy]

This is the most boring slam through QF in history

I think it might be, who’d have thought all the top seeds making it the QFs would have led to such little drama. Been a very strange tournament.

 

[RossiBhoy]

Are we all blind and not understanding that Sinner is one of the best returner ever

Blind or people simply don’t want to acknowledge it because of who he is.

 

[RossiBhoy]

Its actually Draper but hs injuried

He’s planning on playing Davis Cup early this year. Not sure when that is.

 

[bluetrain4]

I was going to stay up for Sinner-Shelton thinking Shelton might have something extra in this matchup and would more competitive than previously. I almost made it and then told myself maybe I'll get up in a couple hours to check it out, but I never did. I was relieved when I saw the score that I didn't miss anything that noteworthy. The gap is still big, but Shelton is at least getting to the matchup. Another Slam QF is a good result.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

I was going to stay up for Sinner-Shelton thinking Shelton might have something extra in this matchup and would more competitive than previously. I almost made it and then told myself maybe I'll get up in a couple hours to check it out, but I never did. I was relieved when I saw the score that I didn't miss anything that noteworthy. The gap is still big, but Shelton is at least getting to the matchup. Another Slam QF is a good result.

Idk if shelton will ever be capable of beating sinner or alcaraz in a big spot. Another overhyped guy. His movement gets exposed.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Yeah, I often wonder what people expect. Shelton was only broken once per set. Did people expect he wouldn't be broken until a tiebreak or what? He has no real return game on the highest level, that's his problem.

But I would simply say he played to his abilities, not more and not less. And then people are being disappointed about a completely normal result and compensate their wrong expectations with hating.

Lookinf for that 3rd guy to come into the picture snd compete with alcaraz and sinner. He’s not it. Shelton now 1-12 combined against sinner and alca.

 

[Fabrivitx]

Blind or people simply don’t want to acknowledge it because of who he is.

Yeah people dont want to knowdlege hs abilities

 

[Fabrivitx]

He’s planning on playing Davis Cup early this year. Not sure when that is.

Hope that bone bruise is good

 

[Tallawah Tennis]

Yeah, I often wonder what people expect. Shelton was only broken once per set. Did people expect he wouldn't be broken until a tiebreak or what? He has no real return game on the highest level, that's his problem.

But I would simply say he played to his abilities, not more and not less. And then people are being disappointed about a completely normal result and compensate their wrong expectations with hating.

Yah man, nodding at your take on it. It's entertaining to read some comments, the realms of reality having been bypassed. I agree that some expectations for Shelton's chances against Jannik in the qf might have been unrealistic.
That said, what is a reasonable expectation? Whether to expect a player finding better form to put up a meaningful contest at this stage of a slam OR to concede to a forgone conclusion that Shelton and similar level players don't stand a chance. No easy answers, but hoping for good matches seems about right.

As for the outcome, Shelton made a reasonable match of it, which is probably as good as it could have been. Jannik through to another GS semi - incredible stuff.

 

[DSH]

ATP H2H: 8-1 for Jannik
Grand Slam H2H: 3-0 for Jannik
H2H on HC: 6-1 for Jannik

I quickly created this match thread. Jannik has a strong advantage in this matchup and is the favorite.

9-1.
4-0.
9-1.

 

[DSH]

Sinner with 23 winners and 9 unforced errors
Shelton with 21 winners and 25 unforced errors

Tells the story. Hideous by Ben.

Did you really expect something different from the "phone kid"?

 

[DSH]

6-3 6-4 6-4

Is really Shelton the best the tier 2 has to offer today?

With the exception of Alcaraz and Sinner, all of his contemporaries are players who have many physical, playing, and mental limitations.

 

[DSH]

Today's "tier 2" would be like tier 4 about fifteen years ago

I think even tier 5.

 

[Vincent-C]

Wawrinka's win over Gea is still the best thing to happen

Tien over Meddy

 

[Drighiz]

Do we have to?

Probably unnecessary. This is a formality at this stage.

 

[Serve&Bash]

Are we all blind and not understanding that Sinner is one of the best returner ever

Sinner is definitely one of the best returners ever. Shelton, on the other hand, is not even close to being one of the best servers despite his incredible pace and freakish kick serves. It's just my observation that his placement is not that great besides his lefty slider out wide from the ad court which is absolutely filthy. Also Sinner isn't the only returner on tour that can exploit this weakness. Shelton lost a few matches badly during the indoor season where he ran into players that just locked in on his serves.

 

[Fabrivitx]

Sinner is definitely one of the best returners ever. Shelton, on the other hand, is not even close to being one of the best servers despite his incredible pace and freakish kick serves. It's just my observation that his placement is not that great besides his lefty slider out wide from the ad court which is absolutely filthy. Also Sinner isn't the only returner on tour that can exploit this weakness. Shelton lost a few matches badly during the indoor season where he ran into players that just locked in on his serves.

For sure the returnes in today game are extremely good, the Shelton precision and placement is an argument vastly discussed but hs non returned serves is still very high

 

[helterskelter]

In terms of what he's capable of I wouldn't put Shelton higher than Verdasco and I'm not even kidding. He's maybe like a more consistent Bautista-Agut.

In what way was Bautista Agut inconsistent? I suppose he is fairly inconsistent now, but he's almost 38. I think he was quite consistent for several years between 2014 and 2022. In a nine-year period, he never finished lower than #25 and never higher than #9. That's quite a small range at that ranking level. I'd say that his level only really took a significant dip in the middle of 2023, by which time he had already turned 35.

This isn't about the Shelton comparison, but: Verdasco's performance at the 2009 AO was very good indeed, but I think his second-best slam performance was at least two rungs down from that. What even was his second-best slam? Maybe 2013 WI? 2009 USO? I suppose that at the regular tour level, you could argue that he consistently maintained a level only one rung down from 2009 AO for most of the first half of 2009 and much of the first half of 2010. Too bad he didn't show up to either RG on the sort of form he showed in those clay-court seasons.

 

[Jezza94]

Delete.