Davidovich Fokina leads the field for Adelaide, Shelton and Ruud in Auckland | ATP Tour

Inspection Report

Scouting Report: Davidovich Fokina leads Adelaide field, Shelton and Ruud in Auckland

The ultimate summary of what every fan should know about the upcoming week

January 11, 2026

Hard court action continues on both sides of the Tasman Sea this week, with Adelaide and Auckland hosting the ATP 250 double-header.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is the top seed at the Adelaide International, where Tommy Paul, Stefanos Tsitsipas and hometown favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis are also competing. In Auckland, Ben Shelton and Casper Ruud lead the ASB Classic draw.

ATPtour.com looks at five things to watch at each event.

FIVE THINGS TO SEE IN ADELAIDE
1) Can Foki thrive as a top seed?: Currently ranked 14th in the PIF ATP Rankings, Davidovich Fokina will compete as the top seed in an ATP Tour event for the first time in Adelaide. The 26-year-old Spaniard will look to bounce back from his first-round exit in Brisbane when he faces either Tristan Schoolkate or Rinky Hijikata in his Adelaide opener.

2) Tsitsipas intends to remain intact: Tsitsipas who once played for Greece in the World No. 3 was in fine form last week in Perth, where he scored a solo 3-0 in Greece’s United Cup campaign. Ahead of Perth, the 12-time ATP Tour champion had not played a tour-level match since September due to a back injury, but will take to the court full of confidence in his Adelaide debut against a qualifier.

3) Paul chasing first win of the year: Like Tsitsipas, Tommy Paul ended his 2025 season early due to injury. The American missed the US Open after tearing a tendon in his left foot, but returned to the court last week in Brisbane, where he fell to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the decider. A two-time semi-finalist in Adelaide, this year’s second seed will play either Reilly Opelka or home hope Alexei Popyrin first.

4) The return of Kokkinakis: Hometown favorite Kokkinakis will play his first singles match in 12 months when he takes the court against Sebastian Korda in Adelaide. The 29-year-old underwent unprecedented surgery on his pec after competing in the 2025 Australian Open. After a doubleheader last week in Brisbane with Nick Kyrgios, Kokkinakis returns to his tracks at the venue where he lifted his first ATP Tour trophy in 2022.

5) Double Glasspool Money: The team that won the ATP Doubles No. 1 of the end of the year presented by PIF honors in 2025 has continued where it left off this season. Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool reached the final in Brisbane to start their season, and the British duo will now head to Adelaide to compete as the top seeds. Their competitors in this competition include Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.

FIVE THINGS TO SEE IN AUCKLAND
1) Shelton wants a quick start: As he has done for the past three seasons, Shelton begins his season in Auckland. The 23-year-old American, currently No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings, will be playing his first tour-level event since making his Nitto ATP Finals debut in November. Shelton’s first coach in New Zealand will be Francisco Comesana or Valentin Royer.

2) Ruud, Mensik competition: Ruud started his year with a statement win against Top 10 star Alex de Minaur at the United Cup in Sydney, and the Norwegian will be hoping to reproduce that form as the second seed in Auckland. However, his opponents in this tournament include third-placed Jakub Mensik, who won in straight sets when the two met in Sydney.

3) Monfils starts his last season: Gael Monfils, 39, has announced that 2026 will be his last year as a professional tennis player, and the Frenchman will be eager to showcase his world-class talent whenever possible throughout the season. That campaign begins in Auckland, where he lifted his 13th ATP Tour crown last year. Alejandro Tabilo and Roberto Bautista Agut are the other former champions of this tournament.

4) Norrie’s home comforts: British star, Cameron Norrie, grew up in Auckland and returns to the ASB Classic hoping this will be the year he can cross the line to claim the title. Norrie reached the championship game in 2019 (l. to Sandgren) and 2023 (l. to Gasquet). The fifth seed opens his bid for the 2026 title against qualifier Hugo Gaston.

5) Bhambri/Goransson top seed: Yuki Bhambri and Andre Goransson headline the doubles tie in Auckland. Their opponents in this draw include Brisbane champions Francisco Cabral and Lucas Miedler, as well as Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul who have won five ATP Tour titles.