Baez stuns Shelton, books semi-final spot in Auckland | OneFootball

Sebastián Báez continues to surprise and has established himself as one of the revelations at the start of the season. After defeating Taylor Fritz in the United Cup, the 25-year-old Argentine delivered another blow by defeating the American Ben Shelton (ranked 8th) 7-5, 6-3, advancing to the semifinals of the ATP 250 in Auckland. With this victory, Báez ended Shelton's streak of 12 matches without losing to Argentine players and secured his third career win against top ten players.

The Buenos Aires native continues to show consistency and maturity: despite the rain that delayed the match, he completed the victory after 98 minutes of intense work. With an impeccable start to 2026, six wins in six matches, and victories over elite players like Wawrinka, Fritz, and Munar, Báez is solidifying himself as one of Argentina's great promises heading into the Australian Open.

In the next stage, he will face Marco Girón, seeking the final in Auckland before heading to Melbourne to debut in the first Grand Slam of the year against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The confidence and level displayed leave Báez in the running to extend his streak and continue climbing positions in the world ranking.

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