ATP Dallas Open Final Round-Up | Ben Shelton saves three championship points to take the title over Taylor Fritz

This Sunday the final of the ATP 500 Dallas Open was played with an all-American showdown between the two highest-ranked local players – both inside the top 10. Ben Shelton had a truly remarkable performance to overcome an almost unbeatable Fritz from the service 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 – even saving three championship points against him.

Shelton had to come back from a set down to claim the 4th title of his career and second ATP 500. The 23-year-old even saved three championship points in the third set and ultimately imposed himself in a match marked by both players’ serving effectiveness, and an incredible spirit from Shelton, who drew energy from the crowd when the match was at its toughest moment.

It was a remarkable start for Fritz, who held his first service games to love and earned an early break thanks to unforced errors from Shelton. The American No. 1 started very superiorly and pulled ahead to 3-0 after just a few minutes. The early distraction – with Fritz winning 12 of the first 13 points contested – ended up catching Shelton off guard, who only ceded a single point for the rest of the set on his serve.

Fritz also showed no doubts on his service until it was time to close it out. The 2024 US Open runner-up served at 5-3 and started 0-30 against. However, he managed to find good first serves – hitting a couple of aces – and finished by taking the set 6-3. The American had won 100% of points on his first serve, compared to Shelton’s 86%, with the only difference being Shelton’s first service game. It took just 26 minutes. Fritz went into the second set in the lead.

At the start of the second set, Fritz maintained the lead. The American No. 1 was the first to create break opportunities early in the set, but could not convert them. On the other hand, Shelton struggled even to put the ball in play on return, and each time the chance of coming back in the match seemed more distant.

The score reached 3-3 and Fritz had a chance to break, but did not manage it, and from that point Shelton took control. The 23-year-old won 11 of the next 13 points, secured the first break in his favor, and strung together three games in a row. From near-total parity in the middle of the set, Shelton drew energy from the crowd and maintained hope until the very last moment. He took the set 6-3 and sent everything to the third set.

The tension was evident at the start of the third set, in which Fritz seemed less effective than in previous sets. However, his first serve continued to deliver – always above 80% of points won on first serve. The second serves, however, made the difference, and that gave Shelton a new opportunity, which he seized on his first chance, moving ahead to 3-1.

Shelton had won 6 of the last 7 games, but Fritz still had energy. The 27-year-old encouraged himself from the return and recovered the break – equalising at 3-3. While Fritz won a couple of simple service games, Shelton faced his toughest moment at 4-5, 15-40 – with double championship point against him. In a couple of notable rallies, Shelton recovered – and after a deuce had to save a third match point against him.

Apparently, the incredible save gave Shelton the final boost to go for the win, as in the next game he quickly converted the break. Only one service game remained to close the triumph, and Shelton claimed victory on his third match point 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, which is the 4th title of his career and second ATP 500.

Fritz and Shelton opted for different commitments for the coming weeks of February. Fritz is registered to lead the ATP 250 Delray Beach, which begins this Monday, and it remains to be seen whether he will decide to play it – or withdraw after a great campaign in Dallas. The new world No. 6 will be the first seed in a draw that includes Casper Ruud, Learner Tien, and Tommy Paul.

For Shelton, he will take a week off after his Dallas campaign and then travel to the Acapulco Open – where he will be the 4th seed in an attractive draw that includes Alexander Zverev and Lorenzo Musetti. Fritz and Shelton will meet again in a tournament in two weeks, at Indian Wells, starting the first week of March.