Giron Outlasts Rain in Auckland Marathon

Auckland’s summer warmth clashed with sudden storms at the ASB Classic, turning Thursday’s quarterfinals into a battle against the elements as much as opponents. Marcos Giron emerged victorious from the chaos, defeating third-seeded Luciano Darderi 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 in a match that spanned more than seven hours, interrupted repeatedly by rain. The outdoor hard courts, slick and unforgiving, tested every player’s resolve early in the ATP 250 warm-up for the Australian Open.

Giron flips Darderi‘s dominant start

Darderi seized control from the baseline, firing heavy topspin forehands crosscourt to rush Giron and claim the first set in brisk fashion. As showers halted play multiple times, Giron adapted, deploying slice backhands to vary pace and draw errors from his opponent’s aggressive returns. In the second set, Giron’s one–two pattern—deep second serve into inside-out forehand—began to click, forcing Darderi into longer rallies where the American’s defensive depth shone through the damp conditions.

The decider unfolded under fading light, with Giron absorbing Darderi’s down-the-line passes and countering with high-bouncing topspin that pushed the Argentine wide. A sparse crowd, huddled under umbrellas, cheered as Giron converted a crucial break point, his focus unbroken despite the tarps covering the court nearby. This grit not only ended the marathon but propelled the unseeded American into the semifinals, his endurance a quiet weapon on the medium-paced surface.

Shelton’s power meets Baez’s steady resistance

Top-seeded Ben Shelton took the court later under the night session lights, but seventh-seeded Sebastian Baez dictated the opener with compact backhands and precise passing shots down-the-line. Shelton’s booming lefty serve faltered early, allowing Baez to exploit second returns and take the set 6-4 on the grippy hard court. Just as Shelton gained traction at 1-0 in the second, thunder crashed and torrential rain suspended play, leaving the eighth-ranked American trailing.

Baez’s topspin-heavy game neutralized Shelton’s inside-in forehands, forcing the taller player into awkward stretches against low slices that skidded low. The delay heightens the stakes for Shelton, whose 2025 breakthroughs demand consistent title runs, while Baez’s counterpunching thrives in disrupted rhythms. A damp stadium echoed with frustrated murmurs from fans as officials called it for the night, the match poised for Friday’s resumption.

Clear skies promise semifinal surge

With fine weather forecast, the Shelton-Baez clash resumes in an extended session, the winner facing Giron in a potential same-day semifinal that could drain reserves before the Australian Open. Auckland’s storms have leveled the field, rewarding adaptability over raw pace and turning quick points into endurance tests on unevenly drying courts. Giron’s perseverance sets a tone for the draw, where mental resets amid chaos could define early-season momentum for these contenders.