Ben Shelton leads 2026 ASB Classic player field
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- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
The ASB Classic men's tournament player list has three players in the top 20 and plenty of other talent scattered throughout the confirmed entry for the January 12-17 event.
Ben Shelton the 23-year-old American returns as the top seed, finishing the year ranked at No 9 in the world after rising as high as fifth. on the back of victory in the ATP Masters 1000 in Canada.
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The powerful left-hander has jumped over 15 ranking places this year to emerge as a global contender.
Second seed is Norwegian Casper Ruud, currently 12th in the world who claimed two titles this year including the Masters 1000 in Madrid and has been as high as second. He is also a three-time Grand Slam finalsit.
The young talent led by 20-year-old Jakub Mensik (CZE) returns as No 19 in the world, on the back of a Masters 1000 title in Miami, where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.
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.
Auckland-raised Cameron Norrie (GBR), at 30 years of age is back on 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 at Auckland.
two players with 79 years of life experience between thTm, will no doubt hold a special place for fans.
Swiss 40-something Stan Wawrinka has earned a Wild Card spot to make his third appearance in Auckland, as he returns from recent years battling injury.
Stan 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.
But even his appearance at Auckland will need to take back-seat to the return of the mercurial Gael Monfils, who has honoured Kiwi tennis fans by starting his final year in the sport at Auckland. 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 Federer, Djokovic, Agassi and Nadal.
Both Monfils and Wawrinka will earn wild card entries with the final direct entry going to American Aleksandar Kovacevic ranked 62 in the world, the strongest direct field ranking in recent years.
“We work very hard to run a good tournament, to look after players and give them a good experience on and off the court… and hopefully to attract a quality field,” said ASB Classic Tournament Director, Nicolas Lamperin.
“The 2026 tournament exceeds our expectations with some of the world’s best led by Ben Shelton; some incredible young players on the rise like Jacub Mensik, and some with such loyalty like Cam Norrie. Add to that, extraordinary legends like Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils, who we will get to see in action for the final time.
“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.”
Italian Lorenzo Sonego reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and was a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open in the past 12 months and is always a player to watch out for with his stylish game.
At present the direct entries ends with American Aleksandar Kovacevic ranked 62nd who has been a big improver reaching the final of an ATP tournament in France and winning Challenger titles.
The field will be completed with a final Wild Card for a New Zealand representative, with the ATP men’s tournament set for January 12-17 following the WTA women’s tournament from January 5-11.
The men’s player 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).