For the second time this week, second seed Ben Shelton found himself embroiled in a tight three-setter before advancing as expected to the title match of the Nexo Dallas Open.
It was a gray victory. A lot of credit to Denis for the way he plays on this pitch. There’s a freight train coming your way! Ben Shelton
On this occasion, the American finally fended off a strong challenge from fellow lefty, Denis Shapovalov, who put up a stern defense of his title before succumbing 4-6 6-4 7-6(4).
“It was a painful victory. Denis deserves a lot of credit for the way he plays on this field,” Shelton said. “There’s a freight train coming your way!”
He saved 10 of the 11 break points he faced during the two-hour, 36-minute semi-final, including crucial saves in the third set at 2-all and 5-all.
Shelton will face top seed and compatriot Taylor Fritz in the final, the first time the pair have faced each other in a title decider.
“I really tried my hardest to show up at every tournament this year with the mindset that I want to win it,” Shelton added. “I’m there every game, putting myself in the position I need to compete at the highest level.”
The pair have met twice before and each has a victory, so this meeting could well provide a psychological advantage for the winner.
(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
To reach the final, Fritz ended Marin Cilic’s excellent run in a tough, serve-dominated match.
The top American seed needed just over two hours to beat the Croatian veteran 7-6(5) 7-6(3), hitting 22 aces past the 37-year-old who managed 16.
Fritz did not concede a break point, while he failed to convert any of the five chances he had on Cilic’s serve.
“Just serve very calmly. I think that’s the most important thing when I feel calm and relaxed, I serve well,” Fritz said in his on-court interview.
“That’s something every tennis player experiences when you’re the one in the opponent’s service games,” Fritz added. “You have a few chances, you’re cruising through your service games and suddenly they get one break point, then you probably win it. You go to the tiebreak, suddenly some returns came back and I told myself I really had to be ready in that tiebreak.”
With the victory, Fritz reached his second final on home soil, after reaching the US Open final in 2024.
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