The men’s draw for the ASB Classic has delivered some intriguing early match-ups, something tournament director Nicolas Lamperin says should make for some interesting battles.

Perhaps the pick of the first round matches is the one between the veteran Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut and the young Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

This will be a clash of styles as Bautista Agut’s all-court game goes up against the big serves and power shots from Mpetshi Perricard.

“It’s a big match for Roberto and Giovanni, but the rest is very well spread out,” Lamperin said.

Another storyline sits at the bottom of the draw, where crowd favourite and defending champion Gael Monfils opens against Fabian Marozsan. Lamperin noted there is recent history between the pair in Auckland.

“They’ve played each other two years ago here, Marozsan won,” he said. “It’s a match that Gael lost 7-6 in the third set, but he has beaten him since.

“So it will be interesting to see how they go again. It’s obviously Gael’s final year in Auckland, so it’ll be a special one, especially coming back as the defending champion.”

Local interest is also high around wildcard James Watt, who faces American Jenson Brooksby in the first round. Lamperin said the match represents a significant step up for the New Zealander.

“It’s new experience for James. I don’t think he’s played at that level before,” he said.

“Jenson was off [the Tour] for some time, but he is already back in the top 50 (at 49), and had a really good season [in 2025], he won in Houston. So it’s a tough one for James, but it’s part of his learning process.”

The top four seeds are all given byes into the second round.

DRAW

[1] Ben Shelton (USA) vs BYE
Francisco Comesana (ARG) vs Valentin Royer (FRA)
Jenson Brooksby (USA) vs James Watt (NZL)
Qualifier vs [7] Sebastián Báez (ARG)
Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs BYE
Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG)
Alexandre Muller (FRA) vs Marcos Giron (USA)
Mariano Navone (ARG) vs [6] Alex Michelsen (USA)
[5] Cameron Norrie (GBR) vs Qualifier
Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA)
Qualifier vs Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA)
BYE vs [3] Jakub Menšík (CZE)
[8] Nuno Borges (POR) vs Tomás Martín Etcheverry (ARG)
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) vs Qualifier
Fabian Marozsan (HUN) vs Gaël Monfils (FRA)
BYE vs [2] Casper Ruud (NOR)