Ben Shelton Sets Sights on Australian Open After Auckland Loss

By Carlos Mendes - Sports Editor

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January 16, 2026 9:28 am

Ben Shelton Sets Sights on Australian Open After Auckland Loss

1. Ben Shelton ‌Eliminated from Auckland International; Baez Advances

2. Baez Continues ‌winning streak

3. Shelton Looks Ahead ‍to Australian Open

Ben Shelton ‌Eliminated from Auckland International; Baez Advances

Ben Shelton, the ⁣top-seeded American, was defeated in the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 tournament in Auckland, ⁤New Zealand, by Sebastian⁢ Baez of Argentina.The⁢ match was played over two days⁣ due to rain ⁤delays. ATP Tour

Baez, the⁣ unseeded and world No.‌ 39, ‍won 7-5,‌ 6-3.The match resumed on Friday with Shelton‌ leading 1-0 in the ‌second set ‍after being suspended on Thursday night due to torrential rain. Baez broke Shelton to take a 2-1‍ lead and ultimately closed out‌ the⁤ match.

Baez Continues ‌winning streak

Following his victory over Shelton,Baez defeated ⁢Marcos Giron 6-1,6-4 in the semifinals. The‌ rain disruptions forced ‌three quarterfinals and both semifinals‍ to be played on the same day. ESPN

Baez will face ‌third-seeded Jakub Mensik in Saturday’s final.Mensik secured his spot by defeating Fabian Marozsan 7-6 (9), 4-6, 6-1. ⁣Marozsan‌ had previously upset ‍defending champion ‍Gael Monfils and second seed⁢ Casper Ruud.

Shelton Looks Ahead ‍to Australian Open

The 23-year-old Shelton, currently the top-ranked ⁣American, is now preparing ⁣for the Australian Open,⁣ where he will face Ugo Humbert of⁢ France in the first round.

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Carlos Mendes - Sports EditorSports Editor

Full Name: Carlos Mendes Role: Editor, Sports Category: Sports Location: Lisbon, Portugal Education: BA in Sports Journalism, University of Lisbon Experience: 13+ years in sports reporting and editorial management Expertise: Football (soccer), Olympic sports, athlete interviews, sports analytics Awards: European Sports Media Award 2021 Professional Affiliations: Member, International Sports Press Association Languages: Portuguese (native), English (fluent), Spanish (conversational) Bio: Carlos Mendes is a passionate sports journalist and editor with over 13 years of experience covering football, Olympic sports, and major international competitions. He holds a BA in Sports Journalism from the University of Lisbon. Carlos is known for his insightful match analysis, exclusive athlete interviews, and dedication to fair play in sports reporting. As Editor of the Sports section at World Today Journal, he brings readers closer to the action with expert coverage and behind-the-scenes stories.