Shelton Saves Match Points to Claim Dallas Title
Ben Shelton turned desperation into dominance, saving three match points to outlast Taylor Fritz in a gripping all-American final at the Dallas Open, securing his fourth ATP crown amid rising expectations.
FRISCO, Texas—Ben Shelton stared down three match points in the Dallas Open final, his left-handed power pulling him back from the edge against top-seeded Taylor Fritz. The 23-year-old No. 9 in the ATP rankings rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory Sunday, marking the first clash of America’s top two men since the tournament arrived in Dallas in 2022. This win lifts Shelton to 4-0 in ATP finals, evening his head-to-head with the seventh-ranked Fritz after splitting their first two meetings.
Shelton channels recent fire
The title arrives on the heels of Shelton’s Australian Open quarterfinal run last month, where he fell in straight sets to Jannik Sinner. That Melbourne exit hung over him like a challenge, especially after dropping the first set in each of his last three Dallas matches as the No. 2 seed. Yet against Fritz, Shelton converted frustration into fight, breaking late in the second set for a 5-3 edge with heavy topspin forehands that pushed the server deep.
Early in the third, he struck again, converting a love break through low slices that tugged Fritz forward on the indoor hard courts. The crowd’s energy surged with each shift, their cheers echoing off the arena walls as Shelton held firm. Fritz clawed back to 3-3, varying kick serves to jam the lefty’s backhand, but the momentum teetered on a knife’s edge.
Fritz’s serve cracks under pressure
Taylor Fritz brought semifinal steam into the opener, fresh off a straight-sets demolition of Marin Cilic where he faced zero break points and swept both tiebreakers. His flat serves claimed 12 of the first 13 points, breaking Shelton early with a crosscourt backhand that exploited the lefty’s aggressive returns. The medium-paced surface favored Fritz’s one–two pattern, his inside-out forehand dictating short rallies.
Shelton adjusted by stepping inside the baseline, shortening his backswing to counter the true bounce. At 5-5 in the decider, Fritz’s lone double-fault of the match gifted three break points, the 28-year-old’s forehand drifting long on the second chance. Shelton seized it, flipping the set and the stakes in a rally that tested both men’s resolve.
A rivalry reshapes American hopes
With the score 6-5, Shelton served for the match, Fritz digging in to save the first two points with booming aces and a diving volley. But on the third, persistent deep approaches forced the error, Fritz’s crosscourt attempt sailing wide amid the Frisco roar. The 10-time ATP champion’s poise faltered just enough, handing Shelton a breakthrough that eases his 2026 load.
This all-American duel spotlights the U.S. duo’s trajectories—Fritz’s steady top-10 grind versus Shelton’s breakout surge—amid a post-Big Three landscape. Shelton’s adaptability on these hard courts signals deeper major runs ahead, while Fritz eyes swift rebound for the clay season. Their paths will cross again, fueling a narrative of renewed stateside contention.