Five players who have reached the world’s top 10, along with a cohort of exciting emerging talent, headline the men’s field confirmed on Wednesday for the ASB Classic this January.
The 23-year-old American, Ben Shelton, returns as the top seed, finishing the year ranked at No 9 in the world after rising to No 5 on the back of victory in the ATP Masters 1000 in Canada. The likeable left-hander has jumped over 15 ranking places this year to emerge as a global contender.
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Second seed is world No 12 Norwegian Casper Ruud, who claimed two titles this year, including the Masters 1000 in Madrid in his return to the top. Ruud is a former world No 2.
This pair are both returning to Auckland for their fourth time, with Shelton first travelled outside the US three years ago to come to Auckland after emerging into the world’s top 100.
There is a heavy accent on some impressive young talent, led by 20-year-old Jakub Mensik. The Czech – who turned heads in January with his win over Shelton – returns as No 19 in the world, on the back of a Masters 1000 title in Miami, where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.
Another rising young player coming is American Alex Michelsen, who started his impressive run in 2025 making the quarter-finals at Auckland. He is joined by 22-year-old Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 22, who reached world No 29, notably hitting 51 aces in his first match at Wimbledon last year.
Auckland-raised Cameron Norrie will also be back on the courts where he spent much time as a young, emerging talent. Once ranked a career-high No 9, Norrie has worked his way back after a lengthy injury break to make the quarterf-inals at Wimbledon this year. Currently at world No 27, the British representative has twice finished runner-up across his nine appearances at Auckland.
While the young guns will provide a compelling presence, the biggest headline may be reserved for two veterans.
Stan Wawrinka (40) will make his third appearance in Auckland, as he returns from recent years battling injury. The “Stanimal” has won 16 singles titles and is the only man to win three Grand Slams in the era of the sport’s “Big Four”. He accounted for Rafael Nadal to win the Australian Open in 2014 and Djokovic twice, at Roland Garros in 2015 and US Open in 2016.
Defending champion Gael Monfils is also heading back and will start his final year in the sport in Auckland. His memorable triumph earlier this year made him the oldest player to win an ATP 250 title and the oldest in the Top 100-ranked players. The 39-year-old has spent 1000 weeks in the Top 100 – a feat he shares with Federer, Djokovic, Agassi and Nadal.
Both Monfils (world No 68) and Wawrinka (world No 157) will need wildcard entries with the final direct entry going to American Aleksandar Kovacevic, ranked 62 in the world, the strongest direct field ranking in recent years.
“The 2026 tournament exceeds our expectations with some of the world’s best led by Ben Shelton, some incredible young players on the rise like Jacub Mensik, and some with such loyalty like Cam Norrie,” said ASB Classic tournament director, Nicolas Lamperin. “Add to that, extraordinary legends like Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils, who we will get to see for the final time.”
The field will be completed with a final wildcard for a New Zealander. The ATP men’s tournament is set for January 12-17, following the WTA women’s tournament from January 5-11.
The men’s player field (seeding, world ranking):
Main Draw wildcards: Gael Monfils (FRA), Stan Wawrinka (SUI).