Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner will duel in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Wednesday, January 28.
Shelton defeated Casper Ruud in the Round of 16 in four sets, while Sinner handled Luciano Darderi with ease. This match will tentatively start at 3 a.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Find my Australian Open Quarterfinal preview and an Shelton vs Sinner prediction for Wednesday below.
Ben Shelton vs Jannik Sinner Player Prediction
- Shelton vs Sinner Pick: Ben Shelton to Record Over 0.5 Breaks of Serve
My Shelton vs Sinner best bet is on Shelton to break Sinner on one or more occasions. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live Australian Open odds page.
Shelton vs Sinner Odds
| Ben Shelton Odds | +890 |
| Jannik Sinner Odds | -1700 |
| Spread | Sinner -6.5 |
| Over/Under | 33.5 (-112o / -118u) |
| Shelton-Sinner H2H | 8-1 |
| Time | How to Watch | Wednesday, 3 a.m. ET | ESPN, ESPN+ |
| Odds via FanDuel | |
Shelton vs Sinner Preview, Prediction
by Tudor Cosma
Ben Shelton Betting Preview
Shelton is a 23-year-old American currently ranked No. 7 in the ATP. It's likely that Shelton will remain in the top 10 for a very long time, as he's one of the premier players of his generation.
Some specialists even envision him in a future "Big Three" alongside Carlos Alcaraz and today's opponent, though he still has several milestones to reach.
The foundation is rock-solid: As a left-handed player, Shelton can open up unique angles, and he possesses one of the most formidable serves in the world.
His serve isn't just powerful; it's varied and accurately placed. His team believes there's still room for growth in this area, which would make him truly lethal.
Off the ground, his baseline game has improved significantly; last year, we saw him hold his own in extended rallies even on clay.
Shelton’s 2025 season was a breakthrough, as he finished in the top 10 and qualified for his first ATP Finals. Notable highlights included a semifinal run here last year (where he lost 0-3 to Sinner), a Wimbledon quarterfinal and a massive Masters 1000 title in Toronto.
While he went winless in the group stage at the ATP Finals, such a result is common for a debutant.
He started 2026 modestly in Auckland, but he's found his rhythm in Melbourne, dropping only one set so far (against Ruud in the previous round).
His return game against Ruud was particularly impressive, applying constant pressure on the Norwegian’s serve.
Jannik Sinner Betting Preview
Sinner is a 24-year-old Italian currently ranked world No. 2. While he no longer holds the top spot, the gap between him and Alcaraz is minimal. In many moments, Sinner appears to be the superior player due to his remarkable consistency and "clean," error-free game.
He missed out on the year-end No. 1 ranking in 2025 primarily due to a three-month suspension in the spring, yet the race was only decided in the final tournament of the season.
Sinner is a technician of rare precision. He's transformed his serve into a primary weapon, making it incredibly difficult for opponents to find break points.
Baseline-wise, he has no weaknesses, striking both his forehand and backhand with elite power and depth.
Mentally, he's unflappable, focusing entirely on the next point regardless of the circumstances.
His background as a junior national ski champion contributes to his exceptional mobility and elasticity on court.
His 2025 season was legendary, winning two Grand Slams (Australian Open and Wimbledon) and nearly a third at Roland Garros, where he held match points in the final against Alcaraz.
He ended the year perfectly, winning titles in Vienna and Paris before a flawless run at the ATP Finals (five matches, five wins, zero sets lost).
Here in Melbourne, he's the two-time defending champion and enters this match on an 18-match winning streak at the tournament.
He faced a physical scare due to heat and cramping against Eliot Spizzirri in the third round, but he looked back to his clinical best in his fourth-round win over Darderi.
Shelton vs Sinner Predictions, Betting Analysis
Shelton has been serving exceptionally well, conceding only two breaks in four matches. However, it's his improvement on the return that stands out. He broke Ruud’s serve multiple times with relative ease.
While Sinner is one of the hardest players to break in tennis history, he did show some vulnerability by offering six break points to Darderi in the previous round (though he saved them all).
In a best-of-five match where Shelton will be swinging freely as the underdog, the law of averages suggests he will find at least one successful return game.
I believe Shelton will manage at least one break of serve, and my prediction follows this logic.
Pick: Ben Shelton to Record Over 0.5 Breaks of Serve
