MELBOURNE, Australia — American tennis star Ben Shelton overcame Norway’s Casper Ruud in straight sets on Monday to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open, the U.S. No. 8 seed confirmed at Melbourne Park. Shelton defeated the 12th-seeded Ruud with a strong all-court performance, including powerful serves and aggressive baseline play, to secure his place in the final eight.
Shelton’s win came after he had already impressed earlier in the tournament with a straight-sets victory over Valentin Vacherot in the third round. Following that match, Shelton garnered attention for writing a brief patriotic message on the post-match camera: “USA ’till it’s backwards,” a phrase he later explained on social media was a youthful expression of national pride.
The 23-year-old American’s progression at this year’s Grand Slam highlights his continued rise in world tennis. Seeded eighth in Melbourne, Shelton has so far demonstrated a powerful serve and tactical maturity that have helped him transition from earlier rounds into deeper contention at a major.
Shelton’s quarterfinal opponent will be determined by upcoming men’s singles matches in Melbourne, where the draw has shown strong depth this year. In other action, Italy’s Jannik Sinner advanced to the quarterfinals and will await competitors coming through adjacent brackets.
Shelton’s performance underscores his status as one of the highest-ranked American men in tennis and adds momentum as he seeks one of his best Grand Slam results.
ALSO READ: Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills Ends After Late Ruling
Hannah Price is a digital journalist who covers breaking news, global events, and trending stories with accuracy and speed. She has previously contributed to several online magazines and has built a reputation for verifying facts before publishing. Hannah believes in responsible reporting and aims to present stories in a way that readers can trust.
