ASB Classic: Sebastian Baez stuns top seed Ben Shelton in Auckland quarter-finals

Michael Burgess

Senior Sports Journalist·NZ Herald·

16 Jan, 2026 01:08 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listenAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.Subscribe now

‌

SaveShare this articleCopy LinkEmailFacebookTwitter/XLinkedInReddit

USA’s Ben Shelton is out of the 2026 ASB Classic at the quarter-final stage. Photo / Andrew Cornaga / Photosport

AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.

Top seed Ben Shelton is out of the ASB Classic.

The American has fallen at the quarter-final stage, beaten in straight sets by Sebastian Baez (Argentina) on Friday. World No 39 Baez, who is the seventh seed here, is on a hot run after winning all three United Cup matches
to start the week. But it was a strangely off-colour display by world No 8 Shelton, who struggled to build any momentum in the 7-5, 6-3 loss.

It’s Shelton’s first defeat (from 13 matches) against Argentine players and just the third time in 21 attempts that Baez has beaten someone ranked inside the top 10.

Rain halted the match on Thursday night, with Baez ahead 7-5, 0-1. The contest continued in bright sunshine on Friday, with the players walking on to court at 12.15pm. But the signs were not good from the start, as Shelton was broken in his first service game after a loose backhand.

Baez seemed to have an answer for everything, at one stage running down a drop shot from the opposite corner of the court. Shelton was trying to bring his full armoury, with some wicked serves and big shots, but was erratic and plagued by constant errors.