Ruud makes timely exit from Australian Open as Shelton storms into last eight | Australian Open 2026

Casper Ruud suffered a frustrating 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 loss to Ben Shelton in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Monday night, but the silver lining of the three-time Grand Slam finalist’s defeat is that he will finally be able to return home.

Ruud, the 12th seed, has been keeping an eye on events at home during his time in Melbourne due to his wife, Maria, being pregnant with their first child and due to give birth this weekend. Ruud had repeatedly stated that he would withdraw and immediately begin the long journey back to Norway if she went into labor during the tournament.

Ruud said last week: “She’s due later in the tournament, so we’ll see. It’s only the last weekend of the tournament, the due date. It’s not a guarantee you’ll make it but you never know, she may come earlier. If I get the call, if she gives birth, I’ll definitely take the first flight home.”

Although Ruud was solid in the first three rounds and in his opening set against seventh-seeded Shelton, he was completely dominated by the American in the final three sets. Once Shelton’s devastating serve was launched, the 23-year-old played with freedom, winning 29 of his 30 net points in the match and coming back unusually well.

The first nine days in Melbourne saw the establishment of historic hegemony by the top players as each of the top six seeds in the men’s and women’s draws reached the quarter-finals for the first time in the Open era.

The early rounds were some of the quietest in recent tournament memory, with almost all of the major title contenders progressing through the early rounds with minimal trouble.

The winners on Monday were led by Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champion, who comfortably cruised through his first meeting with fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, 22nd seed, returning to the last eight with a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (2) victory.

Sinner’s full-body cramps in the heat during his third-round recovery against Eliot Spizzirri had been one of the few real moments of danger for the top title contenders on either round during the first week, but in warmer conditions late in the afternoon Sinner was dominant.

Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, did not even show up in court. On Sunday evening, his highly anticipated meeting with 20-year-old Jakub Mensik was canceled after the Czech was forced to withdraw. Mensik, one of the most talented young players on the tour and 16th seed, beat Djokovic, his idol, to win the Miami Open last year.

Iga Swiatek lost a set earlier in the tournament, but after being forced into a third set in her third-round match against 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya, she responded to Kalinskaya’s 6-1 set with a 6-1 demolition. She had no such problems on Monday, beating Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis 6-0, 6-3.

Straightforward wins from top players mean the quarterfinals are packed with talent, especially among the women. Swiatek will reignite her fierce rivalry with fifth seed Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, one of the main rivalries in women’s tennis. Fourth seed Amanda Anisimova will face fellow American Jessica Pegula. In the first half, two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka will face 18-year-old American Iva Jovic and Coco Gauff will face veteran 12th seed Elina Svitolina.

In the men’s race, Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner remain far ahead of the pack, but the other top seven have at least been part of the conversation. Sixth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat ninth seed Taylor Fritz, will face Djokovic, while Sinner faces Shelton in a rematch of their 2025 semi-final.