The Australian Open is on the instant horizon, however first we have now a pair extra ATP 250 tournaments on the schedule. Adelaide and Auckland take middle stage this week, with intriguing participant fields on supply. Ben Shelton, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik, Gael Monfils, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Tommy Paul are amongst these in motion.
Listed below are my picks for the 2 occasions.
Adelaide Worldwide
The place: Adelaide, Australia Floor: Exhausting High seed: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina2025 champion: Felix Auger-Aliassime (not taking part in)
This title is totally up for grabs, and that’s an understatement. Davidovich Fokina misplaced his opening match in Brisbane; Paul missed the ultimate two months of final season and likewise misplaced instantly in Brisbane; Francisco Cerundolo is best on clay than he’s on arduous courts; Tallon Griekspoor dropped his opening match at eight of his final 10 occasions throughout the 2025 marketing campaign. These are the highest 4 seeds in Adelaide; evidently, none conjures up any confidence.
There’s loads of depth, although, in Adelaide. Tomas Machac is all the time harmful albeit risky, Stefanos Tsitsipas performed properly on the United Cup, No. 5 seed Valentin Vacherot was the tour’s breakthrough sensation this previous fall, No. 6 Brandon Nakashima completed runner-up in Brisbane. Adelaide’s unseeded contingent consists of Ugo Humbert, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Jaume Munar. The highest quarter of the draw is particularly loaded. Vacherot vs. Kokkinakis is a second-round showdown and the winner may face Davidovich Fokina within the final eight.
Quarterfinal picks: Valentin Vacherot over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Ugo Humbert over Brandon Nakashima, Jaume Munar over James Duckworth, and Stefanos Tsitsipas over Tommy Paul
Semifinals: Humbert over Vacherot and Munar over Tsitsipas
Closing: Humbert over Munar
ASB Traditional
The place: Auckland, New Zealand Floor: Exhausting High seed: Ben Shelton Defending champion: Gael Monfils
Shelton is the No. 1 seed, adopted by fellow first-round bye recipients Ruud, Mensik, and Luciano Darderi. Auckland boasts a deep draw, because it additionally consists of Monfils, No. 5 seed Cameron Norrie, No. 6 Alex Michelsen, 2024 champion Alejandro Tabilo, Jenson Brooksby, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Even Sebastian Baez was purple scorching eventually week’s United Cup.
Shelton may run into both Baez or Brooksby within the quarters earlier than presumably going through Darderi or Michelsen. On the opposite aspect of the draw, Ruud will possible meet Monfils within the Norwegian’s opening match. Menik’s first foe might be Aleksandar Kovacevic, a semifinalist final week in Brisbane. An intriguing first-round affair options Mpetshi Perricard and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Quarterfinal picks: Ben Shelton over Jenson Brooksby, Alex Michelsen over Alejandro Tabilo, Cameron Norrie over Jakub Mensik and Casper Ruud over Nuno Borges
Semifinals: Michelsen over Shelton and Norrie over Ruud
Closing: Michelsen over Norrie
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
