On a lively Wednesday in Auckland, the ASB Classic delivered yet another jolt to the ATP Tour landscape as Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan stunned second-seeded Casper Ruud with a clinical 6-4, 6-4 victory to reach the quarter-finals. The 2026 edition of this ATP 250 event, played on hard courts, has already produced its share of upsets and drama, but Marozsan’s performance against the world No. 13 was arguably the day’s headline act.
Marozsan, ranked No. 52, came into the Round of 16 riding the momentum of a first-round win over defending champion Gael Monfils. That result alone turned heads, but few predicted he would follow it up by dispatching Ruud, a player with a solid hard-court pedigree and one of the tournament’s clear favorites. The Hungarian’s victory not only marked his 10th career win over a Top 20 opponent, but also improved his Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Ruud to a perfect 2-0.
The match itself saw Marozsan set the tone early, breaking Ruud’s serve in the opening game and never relinquishing control of the first set. According to the Associated Press, Marozsan “offered only one break point chance before taking out the first set in 40 minutes.” Ruud, for his part, raised his game in the second set, but Marozsan’s aggressive play and unwavering belief proved decisive. A timely break in the ninth game of the second set allowed Marozsan to serve out the match, sending the Norwegian packing in straight sets.
“I had a great serve today and I tried to push my game, tried to be aggressive, tried to believe in myself and everything just happened today,” Marozsan told reporters courtside. “It was a good day for me and hopefully I can keep going.” That self-belief was evident from the outset, as the Hungarian dictated play with a blend of powerful serving and precise groundstrokes. Over the past year on hard courts, Marozsan has won nearly 80% of his service games and converted 32.7% of break points, stats that underscore his ability to capitalize on big moments.
For Ruud, the loss was another chapter of Auckland woes. Despite his status as a perennial contender on tour, the Norwegian has now suffered three opening-round defeats in four appearances at this event. He came into the match with a 19-12 record on hard courts over the past year, including one tournament win, and had converted a robust 41.6% of break points on the surface. Yet, Marozsan’s relentless pressure and tactical acumen left the second seed searching for answers.
Betting markets had favored Ruud ahead of the contest, with BetMGM Sportsbook giving him -210 odds to win, compared to Marozsan’s +160. The implied probability for Marozsan to win was calculated at 67.7%, a nod to the Hungarian’s rising stock but still an underdog position given Ruud’s ranking and experience. For the tournament as a whole, Ruud’s odds to lift the trophy stood at +500, while Marozsan was considered a long shot at +2000. But as tennis fans know all too well, numbers on paper rarely tell the full story once the players step on court.
Marozsan’s path to the quarter-finals has been nothing short of impressive. After dispatching Monfils, he faced a Ruud who had most recently lost to Daniel Altmaier in the Round of 32 at the Rolex Paris Masters. Marozsan, meanwhile, had suffered a setback of his own earlier in January, falling to Yibing Wu in the Round of 32 at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. Yet, in Auckland, he’s looked rejuvenated and razor-sharp, booking his place in his 10th tour-level quarter-final.
Awaiting Marozsan in the next round is American Eliot Spizzirri, who earned his spot by defeating Nuno Borges 7-6(6), 6-4. The matchup promises intrigue, as Marozsan looks to extend his remarkable run and notch another milestone in what’s shaping up to be a breakthrough season.
The day’s action wasn’t limited to Marozsan’s heroics. Top-seeded Ben Shelton, ranked No. 8 in the world, made a winning start to his 2026 campaign with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Francisco Comesana. Shelton, who had a bye in the first round, faced some early resistance but powered through with 12 aces and a 78% success rate on first-serve points. “I feel great, knocked off a little bit of rust but just feel great to be back playing, back competing,” Shelton said after the match. With his coach and father Brian Shelton, as well as U.S. soccer star Trinity Rodman watching courtside, Shelton showcased his trademark aggression and resilience, saving a set point in the first set before closing out the match in style.
Shelton, who is playing in Auckland for the fourth straight year, will be looking to improve on his best result at the event—a semi-final appearance in 2024. His next opponent is the red-hot Sebastian Baez, who cruised past Jenson Brooksby 7-5, 6-0 to extend his unbeaten start to the season to 5-0. Baez, who recently toppled Taylor Fritz at the United Cup for his second Top 10 win, will present a stern test for Shelton as the tournament heads into its latter stages.
Elsewhere, Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard pulled off a gritty comeback to defeat Britain’s Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), saving a match point in the process to book a second consecutive ATP Tour quarter-final. The 22-year-old’s resilience under pressure was on full display, particularly in the third set when he fended off danger at 4-5, 30/40. He now awaits the winner of Jakub Mensik and Hamad Medjedovic.
In another notable result, Luciano Darderi overcame a slow start to defeat Alejandro Tabilo 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, earning his first win since October. The ASB Classic, as always, is serving as a crucial tune-up event for the Australian Open, which is set to begin on Sunday, January 18. With big names falling and new contenders emerging, the tournament is shaping up to be a fascinating prelude to the year’s first Grand Slam.
For Marozsan, the spotlight now shines brighter than ever. His back-to-back wins over Monfils and Ruud have established him as a genuine threat in Auckland, and perhaps beyond. As he put it so succinctly, “It was a good day for me and hopefully I can keep going.” The tennis world will be watching closely as he aims to continue his giant-killing run in the quarter-finals.
