By Tony Fairbairn
- Taylor Fritz [5] v Lorenzo Musetti [9]
- Jessica Pegula [6] v Madison Keys [9]
- Ben Shelton [8] v Casper Ruud [12]
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti will renew their rivalry for a place in the Australian Open quarter-finals.
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Taylor Fritz [5] v Lorenzo Musetti [9] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Taylor Fritz [5] v Lorenzo Musetti [9] | H2H: Tied at 3-3 |
| Australian Open 2026 | Melbourne, Australia |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $480,000 |
| Second on Rod Laver Arena (Not before 03:00 GMT) | Discovery+ Add-on via Amazon Prime
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Despite entering the tournament injured, Taylor Fritz has been in impressive form so far and he ended the Australian Open career of Stan Wawrinka to book his place in the second week. Having reached his maiden Grand Slam final a couple of years ago, Fritz is searching for some more success at the highest level and certainly has the game to achieve it. A big serve mixed with some exceptional court coverage but Fritz’s undoing has been sticking to his gameplan under pressure. Now, the American looks to learn from those mistakes as a place in the quarter-finals is on the line.
Standing in Fritz’s way of a place in the last eight is Lorenzo Musetti as the Italian also searches for a taste of Grand Slam success. It was at last year’s Roland Garros where Musetti reached the semi-finals before injury struck and derailed his momentum. However, Musetti seems to be getting some of that form, firepower and momentum back as he defeated an in-form Tomas Machac in four and a half hours to reach the last 16. Now, Musetti is aiming to bring his best tennis as he searches for a first Australian Open quarter-final of his career.
Fritz will aim to serve aggressively using the backhand down-the-line to pin Musetti behind the baseline and limit the Italian’s options. Meanwhile, Musetti will aim to be smart yet proactive on return and will use the angles to limit Fritz’s play. This will be another Grand Slam epic between two players who cannot avoid playing each other on the big stage. However, Fritz’s serving in big moments should get him out of trouble and into the last eight in Melbourne.
Prediction: Fritz in four sets.
Jessica Pegula [6] v Madison Keys [9] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Jessica Pegula [6] v Madison Keys [9] | H2H: Keys leads 2-1 |
| Australian Open 2026 | Melbourne, Australia |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $480,000 |
| First on Rod Laver Arena (00:30 GMT) | Discovery+ Add-on via Amazon Prime
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There have been very few players who have had a more impressive Australian Open statistically then Jessica Pegula. A grand total of ten games lost so far for the sixth seed who has crushed the opposition in the opening week and is now hoping for some Grand Slam success in the second week. The American has yet to break through at Grand Slam level despite reaching a Grand Slam final before and has often come so close yet so far. Now, Pegula is hoping to prove her worth as she hopes Melbourne will be the place for her first Grand Slam title.
A player that did achieve her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open is Madison Keys as the defending champion is into the second week despite some blips at the start of the tournament. Despite those setbacks, Keys was thoroughly impressive in her win over Karolina Pliskova with the American slowly building her way into the form that won her the title last year. Now, with the pressure on and the expectations rising Keys will aim to improve her level even further in her bid to win a second consecutive Australian Open title.
Pegula will aim to take the forehand early and put pressure on Keys’ defensive skillset and finish points off at the net. While Keys will aim to serve aggressively and use the forehand to dictate play from the baseline. This will be a tight match with both players playing extremely well. A confident Keys will play the big points better to win this tight match but don’t be surprised if Pegula rises to the occasion and ends the title defence of her fellow American.
Prediction: Keys in three sets.
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Ben Shelton [8] v Casper Ruud [12] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Ben Shelton [8] v Casper Ruud [12] | H2H: Ruud leads 2-1 |
| Australian Open 2026 | Melbourne, Australia |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $480,000 |
| Fourth on Rod Laver Arena (09:30 GMT) | Discovery+ Add-on via Amazon Prime
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Despite a tough draw, Ben Shelton has once again thrived in Melbourne. The American has been highly impressive and consistently produced risky yet controlled tennis to storm through the draw so far. Having reached the semi-finals last year, Shelton would love nothing more than to continue his high standard of play in order to back up his result from last year and maybe go even further in his bid for a first Grand Slam title.
Standing in his way is former Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud who has become a dad while achieving his Australian Open dream. A big sacrifice for any person to make but it doesn’t seem to have affected his form so far with the Norwegian producing phenomenal tennis against Marin Cilic in order to reach the second week in Melbourne. Although Ruud hasn’t posted amazing results in the past in Australia, the 12th seed is on a mission in Australia and is aiming to maintain his consistent tennis in his bid to reach a first Australian Open quarter-final.
Shelton will continue to serve aggressively but will need to be more patient from the baseline in this match given the slower conditions. Meanwhile, Ruud will use the forehand to pin the American behind the baseline and expose Shelton’s court positioning especially on the return. This will be a tight match with conditions suiting Ruud’s aggressive yet patient play. However, Shelton’s controlled firepower should come up on top in one of the best matches, in terms of consistent quality, of the tournament so far.
Prediction: Shelton in four sets.
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