Marozsan upsets Ruud, Perricard saves a match point on way to defeating Norrie

Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan scalped Casper Ruud at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Wednesday to earn his 10th Top 20 win on way to the quarterfinals.

Marozsan, who had defeated defending champion Gael Monfils in the first round, scored an impressive 6-4, 6-4 win against second seed Ruud. This marks the third opening-round defeat Ruud has suffered in four appearances at the ATP 250 event in Auckland.

Marozsan now leads the Norwegian 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Into his 10th tour-level quarterfinal, the Hungarian will next meet Eliot Spizzari.

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In other action, Frenchman Giovannia Mpetshi Perricard saved one match point on way to defeating British left-handed Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). The 22-year-old fended off the danger on serve at 4-5 30/40 in the third set, eventually prevailing to reach his second consecutive ATP Tour quarterfinal of the new season.

He will next play third seed Jakub Mensik or Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic.

Top seed Ben Shelton began his season with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Francisco Comesana. The American, competing for the first time since he made his debut at the ATP Finals in November, saved all six break points he faced against Comesana. He now holds a perfect 12-0 record against Argentines.

Shelton is playing in Auckland for the fourth consecutive year, with his best result to date a semifinal showing in 2024. The No. 8 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will hope to maintain his impressive record against Argentines when he meets the red-hot Sebastian Baez in the quarterfinals.

Baez improved to 5-0 on the new season after cruising past Jenson Brooksby 7-5, 6-0. The 25-year-old downed Taylor Fritz at the United Cup last week to earn his second Top 10 win and will look to notch another victory of a similar nature against Shelton, who leads Baez 1-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Luciano Darderi and Spizzirri were also winners on Wednesday in Auckland. Darderi beat Alejandro Tabilo 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 to earn his first win since October, while Spizzirri eliminated Nuno Borges 7-6(6), 6-4.

Paul downs Opelka, faces Vukic in quarters

Tommy Paul had been sidelined late in 2025 due to a lingering foot injury but showed no ill effects on his return to Adelaide, where he is a two-time semi-finalist. Pic: ATP Tour

Tommy Paul needed just one extra crack at neutralising a ‘servebot’ and getting his 2026 season rolling on Wednesday, when he notched his first tour-level win in four months at the Adeliade International.

After falling to booming Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard last week in Brisbane — his first tour-level match since the US Open in August — Paul responded in Adelaide to defeat countryman Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4 and reach the quarterfinals. The 28-year-old American had been sidelined late in 2025 due to a lingering foot injury but showed no ill effects on his return to Adelaide, where he is a two-time semi-finalist.

The second seed will next face Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic, who downed Italian doubles star Andrea Vavassori 6-2, 7-6(5).

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina also recorded his first win of the 2026 season. The Spaniard dismantled Aussie wild card Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-2 and will meet Valentin Vacherot in the quarterfinals.

Fifth seed and reigning Shanghai champion Vacherot advanced on Wednesday after home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew from their second-round clash due to a right shoulder injury. In his opener — his first singles appearance in nearly 12 months due to pectoral surgery — he battled past Sebastian Korda but was unable to take to court in the next round.

Earlier, Jaume Munar continued his impressive form by upsetting third seed Francisco Cerundolo 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to notch his 17th win over a Top 20 player. Munar is coming off the back of an impressive 2025 season. He meets eighth seed Tomas Machac in the quarterfinals.

Ugo Humbert will take a 2-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead into his quarterfinal clash with Alexandar Shevchenko, who also advanced on Wednesday. Humbert downed fourth seed Tallon Griekspoor 6-1, 6-4 in just 78 minutes, while Shevchenko defeated Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 7-6(6).