Ben Shelton faced a tough challenge from Denis Shapovalov but managed to win in a final-set tiebreak, securing a spot in the Dallas Open final. The American, seeded second, overcame the defending champion with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) victory, displaying resilience by saving 10 out of 11 break points, including crucial saves at key moments in the match.
In the upcoming final, Shelton will meet top seed Taylor Fritz, who stopped Marin Cilic’s resurgence in the semi-finals of the Nexo Dallas Open. Fritz exhibited composure in a closely contested match against the Croatian, prevailing 7-6(5), 7-6(3) and firing 22 aces past his opponent.
The Dallas Open final will witness a rare occurrence as the first and second seeds, Fritz and Shelton, will compete for the title. This unique showdown marks the first time in over four decades that the top seeds from multiple ATP Tour events will face off in the finals of three tournaments in the same week.
