America’s top men’s tennis player, Ben Shelton, is set to compete against Sebastian Baez in the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic, taking place in Auckland, New Zealand. Scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, this match is particularly significant as it leads up to the Australian Open, which begins the following day.
Shelton earned his spot in the quarterfinals after a solid performance in his opening match, where he secured a victory over Francisco Comesana with a score of 7-5, 6-4. This match presented Shelton’s first competitive outing of 2026, allowing him to “knock off the rust” after a break from play. The match lasted 1 hour and 42 minutes, during which Shelton showcased his strengths with 12 aces and won 78% of his first-serve points. Despite some signs of inactivity, Shelton expressed enthusiasm about his return to competitive tennis, stating, “I feel great, knocked off a little bit of rust but just feel great to be back playing, back competing.”
The ASB Classic is a crucial warm-up before the prestigious Australian Open, with Shelton entering as the top seed. He will be joined by other competitors, including unseeded Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, who recently upset second-seeded Casper Ruud, as well as fifth-seeded Cameron Norrie, who also exited early in the tournament.
Fans can catch the Shelton vs. Baez match on Tennis Channel, with streaming options available through DIRECTV and FuboTV, both offering free trials. This matchup not only highlights Shelton’s climb in the sport but also sets the stage for an exciting showdown as the tennis season ramps up.
The tournament serves as an important indicator of players’ form heading into the Australian Open, where expectations are high for Shelton, who continues to solidify his reputation as a rising star in men’s tennis.