Shelton Trails Baez in Rain-Soaked Auckland Quarterfinal

Rain patters against the outdoor courts in Auckland, turning a promising quarterfinal into a cliffhanger for top seed Ben Shelton. The ASB Classic’s Thursday schedule at this ATP 250 event grinds to a halt with seventh seed Sebastian Baez ahead 7-5, 0-1, 30/15, his baseline tenacity cracking the American’s lefty serve three times in a first set marked by shifting leads. As the No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Shelton’s powerful game now demands quick adjustments when play resumes Friday afternoon, where the winner awaits Marcos Giron in the semis.

Baez’s crafty returns and heavy topspin forehands pulled Shelton into longer rallies, forcing errors on inside-out attempts that usually clear the court. The Argentine, yet to beat the American in ATP Head2Head matchups, varied his paces to disrupt rhythm, stepping inside the baseline for aggressive crosscourt replies. This topsy-turvy opener exposed Shelton’s early impatience on these medium-paced hard courts, where grip favors grinders over pure power.

Sealed in style

Sebastian Baez takes the opening set against Shelton, 7-5.@ASB_Classic | #ASBClassic26 pic.twitter.com/O9NqN1upGx

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 15, 2026

Baez forges lead through tactical grit

Sebastian Baez chased down every drop shot and countered with down-the-line backhands, turning defense into sudden offense during key service games. His low-slice second serves kept Shelton pinned back, setting up one–two patterns that ended with topspin winners into the corners. The crowd at @ASB_Classic sensed the upset brewing under #ASBClassic26, Baez’s poise amplifying the psychological edge as rain fell on January 15, 2026.

Shelton’s booming serves, often exceeding 130 mph, met resistance from Baez’s deep returns, leading to four breaks in the set. The top seed rallied late but couldn’t hold when it mattered, his flat forehands clipping the lines yet falling short against the Argentine’s court coverage. Resuming at 30/15 on his serve, Shelton must mix in more spin variation to reclaim momentum and avoid an early exit in this season opener.

Giron rallies past Darderi in lone finish

Marcos Giron provided the day’s only complete result, battling back from 1-6 against Luciano Darderi to win 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and 36 minutes. He converted five of 10 break points, using steady inside-in forehands to neutralize the Italian’s loopy topspin and aggressive net rushes. Giron’s deeper returns in the final set forced errors, securing his spot as the first player with multiple tour-level semifinals this season after Hong Kong last week.

The American’s resilience shone through a shaky start, shortening points with crosscourt angles that exploited Darderi’s second-serve vulnerabilities. Now facing either Shelton or Baez, Giron’s 62 percent first-serve rate could test the winner’s hold patterns on these bounce-friendly courts. His post-match quip captured the mental reset needed, a blueprint for Shelton’s impending fightback amid Auckland’s building intensity.

Weather freezes other tense duels

Fabian Marozsan held a 5-4, 30/30 advantage over Eliot Spizzirri when drops interrupted, his flat groundstrokes probing the American’s one-handed backhand in tight exchanges. Meanwhile, Jakub Mensik trailed 0/30 on serve to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the pair trading heavy slices and big first deliveries in a power standoff. These suspended first sets add layers of uncertainty to Friday’s resumption, where tactical shifts could redefine early rankings pushes.

Auckland’s clearing forecast promises a full slate, but the delays heighten stakes for players like Shelton guarding his top-10 perch. Baez eyes a breakthrough win, his 68 percent service-game hold on hard courts this year fueling underdog fire. As the ASB Classic unfolds, these weather-whipped matches underscore the grind of outdoor tennis, where resolve often trumps raw talent in the chase for semis glory.