Top seed Ben Shelton will take on seventh seed Sebastian Baez in the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic 2026 on Thursday, January 15.
Shelton, who received a first-round bye, sealed a 7-5, 6-4 win over Francisco Comesana in the second round, while Baez bounced back from a set down to defeat Emiliano Nava in his opener before cruising past Jenson Brooksby 7-5, 6-0.
Both players competed in Auckland last year, exiting in the second round. Shelton, however, reached the semifinals in 2024, while this marks Baez’s deepest run at the event.
Ben Shelton vs Sebastian Baez Head to Head & Matchup Keys
Shelton and Baez have met just once on the ATP Tour, coincidentally in Auckland in 2023, with Shelton prevailing 7-6(1), 6-1.
Shelton comes into the season on the back of a 40-24 record in 2025, highlighted by his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal. Baez, meanwhile, finished last year 17-24, capturing one title in Rio de Janeiro.
Shelton also boasts the stronger hard-court credentials, holding an 83-50 career record on the surface compared to Baez’s 31-56.
Ben Shelton vs Sebastian Baez Prediction, Top Bets & Odds
| Player | Moneyline | Handicap Bets | Total Games |
| Ben Shelton | -370 | -1.5 (-310) | Over 20. 5 (-180) |
| Sebastian Baez | +280 | +1.5 (+200) | Under 20.5 (+120) |
(Odds sourced from BetMGM and can vary closer to the match)
Shelton looked sharp in his season opener, serving 12 aces and winning 53 of 73 service points while saving all six break points he faced. His net looks to be only getting better with time, as he claimed 15 of 20 points at the net, highlighting his attacking intent and willingness to finish points quickly.
Baez, meanwhile, is unbeaten in five matches this season. He represented Argentina at the United Cup last week, defeating Taylor Fritz, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Jaume Munar. After a three-set battle in his opening round in Auckland, Baez bounced back with a dominant second-round performance, converting all six break points and winning 31 of 53 return points.
This quarterfinal promises an exciting clash as Shelton’s power game meets Baez’s crafty baseline play. Shelton enters as the heavy favorite to advance, thanks to his superior hard-court record.
Best Odds – Shelton to win in straight sets.
Safe Bet – Baez to win at least 8 games, and the match will have at least 15 games.
Tie Breaker Options – No.
Note: Picks are decided based on head-to-head history, current form, and on-court conditions.
Match Snapshot
Ben Shelton will play Sebastian Baez in the ASB Classic quarterfinals on January 15, 2026, around 1:00 p.m. local time in Auckland, live on Tennis Channel (USA), Sky Sports (UK), and TSN/RDS (Canada).
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