The Auckland tennis scene is heating up as three of the top four seeds make it through to the quarterfinals, showcasing their prowess on the hard courts. Notable names—Ben Shelton and Jakub Mensik—are set to compete against Sebastian Baez and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, respectively, this Thursday.
In the first quarterfinal matchup, the top seed Ben Shelton will take on the seventh seed Sebastian Baez. This marks the second encounter between these players; they previously clashed in the 2023 ASB Classic, where Shelton secured a convincing win with scores of 7-6(1), 6-1. The American, currently ranked eighth in the world, initiated his 2026 season with a strong performance against Argentina’s Francisco Comesana, winning in straight sets.
Baez, positioned at 39 in the world rankings, has started the year with remarkable momentum, remaining unbeaten at the United Cup, defeating key players such as Jaume Munar, Taylor Fritz, and Stan Wawrinka. His journey in Auckland has seen triumphs over both Emilo Nava and Jenson Brooksby. However, Shelton’s growth as a player since their last encounter could play a significant role in this rematch, with many experts favoring Shelton’s chances, given his current form and the challenge Baez presents, similar to what Comesana posed in their earlier match.
Moving on to the other quarterfinal, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is emerging as a formidable unseeded contender as he approaches the Australian Open, alongside players like Hubert Hurkacz. The 22-year-old, sitting at 63 in the ATP rankings, is renowned for his powerful serve and impressive recent performances. Mpetshi Perricard reached the quarterfinals in Brisbane before making his way into the Auckland quarters after tough battles against Roberto Bautista Agut—decided in a nail-biting second-set tiebreaker—and a close contest against Cameron Norrie that ended in a third-set tiebreaker.
In his quarterfinal showdown, Mpetshi Perricard will face off against Jakub Mensik, marking their third meeting after Mpetshi Perricard has claimed victory in both prior encounters. Their first face-off was in the Poznan Challenger, where Mpetshi Perricard triumphed 13-11 in a tense third-set tiebreak, followed by another tightly contested match in Brisbane a year later, ending in a 7-5, 7-6(5) win for the Frenchman. Mensik, currently ranked 18th, has had a mixed start to the season with a record of 2-2 and is coming off a grueling three-set battle against Hamad Medjedovic.
As these exciting matchups unfold, tennis enthusiasts are keenly anticipating how these players will adapt to the pressure and showcase their talents on Thursday.
