Australian Open 2026: How to watch the Ben Shelton vs. Jannik Sinner match today

Jan 26, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ben Shelton of United States in action against Casper Ruud of Norway in the fourth round of the men’s singles at the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
Ben Shelton plays Jannik Sinner for a spot in the Australian Open semifinals tonight. Here's how to watch. (Mike Frey-Imagn Images)
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters

Jannik Sinner is defending his title at the Australian Open this year, and if recent history proves anything, he has a very good chance of making it to the final. Sinner competed in all four Grand Slam finals in 2025, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon. However, his quarterfinal opponent, American Ben Shelton, has been gaining momentum as he searches for his first major title. 

Australian Open tournament coverage of the men's quarterfinal will air on ESPN, and the entire tournament is available to stream for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. Here's what you need to know about the Shelton vs. Sinner match at the 2026 Australian Open.

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 28

Time (estimated): 3 a.m. ET 

Location: Rod Laver Arena

TV channel: ESPN

Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, DirecTV, Fubo and more

The quarterfinal match between Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open will be Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.

The match between Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner will start at 3 a.m. ET. The match will be available live on ESPN Unlimited, and will air on ESPN.

In the U.S., the Australian Open will air on ESPN, with the entire tournament streaming on ESPN+ for Unlimited subscribers. Select tournament coverage will also air on ESPN2, before moving to ESPN for the semifinals and beyond.

If you want to catch every match of the Australian Open and don’t currently subscribe to ESPN+, cable or a live TV streaming service, in Australia a majority of the action will be streaming free with ads on 9Now.

Don't live in the land down under? Don't worry, you can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to tennis coverage without a cable package, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.

All times Eastern

  • (Day 1) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 1) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 2) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 2) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 3) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 3) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 4) Men’s and Women’s 2nd Round: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 4) Men’s and Women’s 2nd Round: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 5) Men’s and Women’s 2nd Round: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 5) Men’s and Women’s 2nd Round: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 6) Men’s and Women’s 3rd Round: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 6) Men’s and Women’s 3rd Round: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 7) Men’s and Women’s 3rd Round: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 7) Men’s and Women’s 3rd Round: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 8) Men’s and Women’s 4th Round: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 8) Men’s and Women’s 4th Round: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 9) Men’s and Women’s 4th Round: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 9) Men’s and Women’s 4th Round: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 10) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 10) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 11) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 11) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 3:00 a.m.

  • (Day 12) Women’s Semifinals: 7:00 p.m.

  • (Day 13) Men’s Semifinal: 8:00 p.m.

  • (Day 13) Men’s Semifinal: 3:30 a.m.

  • (Day 14) Women’s Final: 3:30 a.m.

  • (Day 15) Men’s Final: 3:30 a.m.

The top 10 seeded players for the singles draws are listed below.

Men’s singles seeds for the Australian Open 2026

1. Carlos Alcaraz

2. Jannik Sinner

3. Alexander Zverev

4. Novak Djokovic

5. Felix Auger-Aliassime

Women’s singles seeds for the Australian Open 2026

1. Aryna Sabalenka

2. Iga Swiatek

3. Amanda Anisimova

4. Coco Gauff

5. Elena Rybakina

For 2026, the men's and women's singles winners of the Australian Open each get $4,150,000, with the runner-up receiving $2,150,000 and Semi-finalists $1,250,000.



* This article was originally published here

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