Aleksandar Vukic delivered the significant upset in Adelaide, stunning Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to eliminate the Greek star from the Adelaide International. Meanwhile in Auckland, defending champion Gael Monfils bid farewell to the tournament in his final appearance, falling to Hungarian Fabian Marozsan in three sets. The day also featured convincing wins for Tomas Machac and comeback victories for Alexander Shevchenko and Hamad Medjedovic.
Vukic's tactical masterclass stuns Tsitsipas
The biggest upset of the day came in Adelaide where home favorite Aleksandar Vukic executed a perfect game plan to eliminate world No. 33 Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(3), 7-6(5). The Australian, ranked 54 places below his opponent, targeted Tsitsipas's backhand relentlessly and capitalized on crucial moments in both tiebreaks. Vukic's composure under pressure was exceptional - he saved all four break points faced while winning 23 of 25 serve pressure points, never allowing the Greek to settle into rhythm. The victory was particularly sweet after Tsitsipas had raised expectations following his strong United Cup performance alongside Maria Sakkari. However, unforced errors plagued the former world No. 3 at critical junctures, with both tiebreaks slipping away due to mistimed shots on key points.
Monfils's emotional Auckland farewell
In Auckland, tennis said goodbye to one of its most beloved figures as 39-year-old Gael Monfils played his final match at the ASB Classic, falling 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to Hungarian Fabian Marozsan. The defending champion, who became the oldest tour-level title winner since 1977 when he claimed this tournament last year, was honored with a personalized Maori spear after the match. Monfils reflected on his 19-year relationship with Auckland, having first appeared in 2007 as a 20-year-old. The poignancy was heightened by his wife Elina Svitolina matching his achievement from 2025 by winning the WTA title in Auckland just last week. For Marozsan, the victory marked his second win over Monfils in Auckland and leveled their head-to-head record at 2-2, providing a fitting end to the Frenchman's remarkable Auckland journey.
Medjedovic survives three-set thriller
Hamad Medjedovic showcased his fighting spirit in Auckland, overcoming Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2) in a grueling three-set encounter. The Serbian teenager demonstrated remarkable serving prowess when it mattered most, firing 12 aces and winning an impressive 10 of 13 serve pressure points to nullify his American opponent's powerful game. The decisive tiebreak saw Medjedovic raise his level precisely when needed, racing to a commanding lead and never looking back. His ability to bounce back from dropping the second set highlighted the mental fortitude that has made him one of the most promising young talents on tour.
Machac dominates Duckworth in Adelaide
Czech star Tomas Machac delivered the most dominant performance of the day, dismantling Australian James Duckworth 6-3, 6-3 in Adelaide. The world No. 35 was virtually untouchable on serve, winning a staggering 87.8% of first serve points and blasting 11 aces without facing a single break point. Machac's precision was evident in his pressure point statistics - winning 8 of 17 return pressure points while maintaining perfect composure on his own serve by taking 5 of 6 serve pressure points. The clinical display sets up an intriguing second-round clash as the Czech looks to build momentum ahead of the Australian Open.
Shevchenko and Fucsovics advance in contrasting styles
Alexander Shevchenko provided the day's most dramatic comeback, rallying from a set down to defeat Damir Dzumhur 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in Adelaide. The match was a break point festival with 19 total break point opportunities, and Shevchenko's ability to convert 6 of 10 chances ultimately proved decisive. Meanwhile, Marton Fucsovics took a more controlled approach against Ethan Quinn, securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory through solid serving and clutch play in pressure moments, saving 6 of 7 break points faced to advance comfortably.
Wednesday's matchups
The ATP's Australian swing continues Wednesday with compelling round of 16 action across two tournaments. World No. 13 Casper Ruud headlines the Auckland field against upset-minded Fabian Marozsan, while Tommy Paul faces big-serving Reilly Opelka in Adelaide's marquee clash. The day also features intriguing first-time meetings between Jenson Brooksby and Sebastian Baez in Auckland, plus a rematch between Tallon Griekspoor and Ugo Humbert in Adelaide.
Norwegian hope meets Hungarian challenger
Casper Ruud's quest for his first ATP title of 2026 continues against a player who has already defeated him once. Fabian Marozsan stunned the Norwegian in their only previous encounter at Shanghai in October 2023, and the Hungarian enters this match with nothing to lose despite his recent struggles on hard courts.
The statistical contrast is stark. Ruud boasts a solid 62.5% win rate on hard courts over the past 12 months (20-12), while Marozsan sits at exactly .500 (15-15). However, their respective tiebreak records tell an interesting story - Ruud's 61.5% success rate (8-5) significantly outpaces Marozsan's concerning 33.3% mark (6-12). This could prove crucial given their similar serving patterns, with both players winning around 73% of first-serve points. Ruud's superior break point conversion (40.5% vs 33.0%) and better recent form (7-3 in his last 10) make him the favorite, but Marozsan's ability to elevate his game in pressure moments - evidenced by his 67.9% break point save percentage - keeps this match from being a foregone conclusion.
Power clash in Adelaide
The Tommy Paul versus Reilly Opelka rematch promises fireworks after their dramatic Dallas encounter in February 2025, where Paul emerged victorious. Both Americans arrive in contrasting form, setting up a fascinating battle of styles between Paul's all-court aggression and Opelka's overwhelming serve.
Opelka's serve remains his primary weapon, averaging a tournament-leading 18.7 aces per match while winning an impressive 80.9% of first-serve points. His 74.1% break point save rate demonstrates why he's so difficult to break, even when opponents create opportunities. Paul, however, possesses the return skills to trouble any server, winning 31.9% of points against first serves - significantly higher than Opelka's pedestrian 18.8%. The key battleground will be Paul's service games, where his 57.1% break point save percentage looks vulnerable against Opelka's improving return game. Paul's superior recent form on hard courts (66.7% win rate vs 48.3%) and better conversion rate on break points (42.9% vs 29.2%) give him the edge in longer rallies.
Humbert seeks revenge against struggling Griekspoor
Ugo Humbert enters this Adelaide clash with momentum and motivation after Tallon Griekspoor defeated him in Dubai last February. The Frenchman's recent form suggests he's ready to even their head-to-head record, while the Dutchman arrives in concerning form with three consecutive losses.
Humbert's superior hard-court record over the past year (60.7% vs 46.9%) reflects his better overall consistency, particularly in pressure situations where he converts 39% of break points compared to Griekspoor's 30.8%. Both players serve well, with Griekspoor averaging 9.2 aces per match to Humbert's 7.6, but the Frenchman's 52.9% second-serve winning percentage provides better protection during service games. Griekspoor's primary advantage lies in his tiebreak experience (15-11 record vs Humbert's 6-5), though his current three-match losing streak raises questions about his confidence level.
American clash in Auckland
Jenson Brooksby meets Sebastian Baez for the first time in what should be an intriguing stylistic matchup. Brooksby's recent 6-4 record in his last 10 matches suggests improved form, while Baez arrives riding a four-match winning streak despite his modest 38.9% hard-court win rate over the past year.
The Argentine's superior break point conversion rate (45.0% vs 40.1%) could prove decisive, especially given Brooksby's tendency to face more break points throughout matches. Brooksby's tiebreak prowess (75.0% win rate vs unavailable data for Baez) provides him with a potential edge in close sets, while his 60.4% break point save percentage matches Baez's 60.6% mark almost exactly.
Norrie faces the ace machine
Cameron Norrie's steady baseline game will be tested by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard's explosive serving in their first career meeting. The Frenchman's 13.8 aces per match and 78.8% first-serve winning percentage present a unique challenge for Norrie's usually reliable return game.
Norrie's superior hard-court consistency (52.8% vs 46.9% win rate) and recent 7-3 form give him confidence, but Mpetshi Perricard's 70.5% break point save rate demonstrates his ability to escape trouble. The Briton's 34.6% break point conversion rate will be tested against one of the tour's most dangerous servers, making this a classic counterpuncher versus power server battle.
Darderi seeks to halt slide against confident Tabilo
Luciano Darderi desperately needs to reverse his fortunes after five consecutive losses, facing Alejandro Tabilo who leads their head-to-head 3-2 following victory in their most recent Chengdu meeting.
Darderi's struggles on hard courts are evident in his dismal 33.3% win rate and concerning 54.9% break point save percentage - the lowest among all players in action Wednesday. Tabilo's superior serving under pressure (69.2% break point save rate) and steadier overall game make him a clear favorite despite his lower ranking, especially given the Italian's current mental fragility after his extended losing streak.
Wednesday's action could significantly reshape both tournament draws, with several seeded players facing genuine upset threats. The combination of first-time meetings and revenge scenarios promises compelling tennis across both Adelaide and Auckland, as players seek early-season momentum in the final major warm-up events before the Australian Open.