Source: Radio New Zealand
Clockwise from top left: Gael Monfils, Casper Ruud, Ben Shelton and Cam Norrie are in the field for the 2026 ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland. Photosport
Five players who have reached the world’s top 10, along with some explosive emerging talent are among the male players confirmed for the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland in January.
The ATP tournament from 12-17 January follows the WTA women’s event from 5-11 January.
The 23-year-old American Ben Shelton returns as the top seed. He finished the year ranked at No 9 in the world after rising to No 5 on the back of winning the title at the ATP Masters 1000 in Canada. The left-hander has jumped more than 15 ranking places this year to emerge as a global contender.
Top seed Ben Shelton PHOTOSPORT
Second seed is Norwegian Casper Ruud, the world No 12, who claimed two titles this year including the Masters 1000 in Madrid. He was ranked No 2 in the world two years ago.
This pair form part of the tennis family at the ASB Classic, both returning to Auckland for their fourth time, remembering that Shelton first travelled outside the United States three years ago to come to Auckland after emerging into the world’s top 100.
Twenty-year-old Czech player Jakub Mensik leads the young talent. He returns to the tournament now ranked at No 19 in the world, on the back of a Masters 1000 title in Miami, where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.
Czech player Jakub Mensik photosport
Another rising young player returning is American Alex Michelsen, who started his impressive run in 2025 making the quarterfinals at Auckland. He is joined by 2.01m Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 22, who reached world No 29, notably hitting 51 aces in his first match at Wimbledon last year.
There is a degree of nostalgia in the 2026 tournament with Auckland-raised Cameron Norrie (GBR), at 30 years of age, returning to the courts where he spent much time as a young, emerging talent.
Once ranked a career high No 9, Norrie has worked his way back after a lengthy injury break to make the quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year. He has twice finished runner-up among his nine appearances in Auckland.
While young guns will provide a compelling presence, two players with 79 years of life experience between them, will no doubt hold a special place for fans.
Swiss 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka has earned a wild card spot to make his third appearance in Auckland, as he returns from recent years battling injury.
The “Stanimal” has won 16 singles titles and is the only man to win three Grand Slams in the era of the sport’s “Big Four”. He accounted for Rafael Nadal to win the Australian Open in 2014 and Djokovic twice, at Roland Garros in 2015 and US Open in 2016.
Auckland’s defending champion Gael Monfils gets a wild card to start his final year in the sport in the city.
His victory at the Manuka Doctor Arena this year made him the oldest player to win an ATP 250 title and the oldest in the Top 100 ranked players. He has spent 1000 weeks in the Top 100 – a feat he shares with Roger Federer, Djokovic, Andre Agassi and Nadal.
The final direct entry to the main draw went to American Aleksandar Kovacevic, ranked 62 in the world, the strongest direct field ranking in recent years.
ASB Classic tournament director Nicolas Lamperin said the 2026 tournament field “exceeds our expectations”.
“The team are working on delivering a wonderful experience off the court, and the quality of this field we are announcing today is magnificent, to ensure fans will receive a special tournament on the court also.”
The field will be completed with a final wild card for a New Zealand representative.
Men’s field (with seeding and world ranking):
1 Ben Shelton (USA) 9, 2 Casper Ruud (NOR) 12, 3 Jakub Mensik (CZE) 19, 4 Luciano Darderi (ITA) 26, 5 Cameron Norrie (GBR) 27, 6 Alex Michelsen (USA) 38, 7 Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 39, 8 Alexandre Muller (FRA) 42, 9 Sebastian Baez (ARG) 45, 10 Nuno Borges (FRA) 47, 11 Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG) 49, 12 Fabian Marozsan (HUN) 51, 13 Jenson Brooksby (USA) 53, 14 Valentin Royer (FRA) 58, 15 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) 59, 16 Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) 60, 17 Francisco Comesana (ARG) 61, 18 Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) 62.
Main draw wild cards: Gael Monfils (FRA), Stan Wawrinka (SUI).
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
