Fresh off another deep run at the Australian Open, Ben Shelton has made a public appeal as he turns his focus to the 2026 Dallas Open. With the tournament approaching, Shelton openly invited potential doubles partners to reach out, making his desire to compete in both categories clear.
A Quarterfinal Finish in Melbourne Sets the Tone for Ben Shelton’s 2026 Season
The 23-year-old recently wrapped up his fourth Australian Open appearance, advancing to the quarterfinals for the second straight year and the third time in his career. Seeded eighth in Melbourne, Shelton dispatched Ugo Humbert, Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny, 30th seed Valentin Vacherot, and 12th seed Casper Ruud en route to the last eight. His run ended against two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner, who claimed a straight-sets quarterfinal victory.
As he looks ahead to Dallas, scheduled from Feb. 9 through 15, Shelton used Instagram Stories to share a short clip where he could be heard saying, “I need a partner to play doubles with at the Dallas Open next week. Hit my line.”
Shelton’s history in Dallas adds context to the moment. He made his tournament debut in 2024 as the No. 3 seed and reached the singles semifinals before losing to eventual champion Tommy Paul. That same year, he accepted a doubles wildcard alongside Emilio Nava, and the young American duo advanced to the semifinals before falling 4-6, 4-6 to William Blumberg and Rinky Hijikata.
In 2025, when the event was elevated to ATP 500 status, Shelton returned as the No. 4 seed and reached the second round in singles before bowing out to Jaume Munar. His doubles ambitions also grew, teaming with veteran specialist Horacio Zeballos. Despite the upgraded partnership, they were edged out 4-6, 6-3, (7-10) in the first round by Hijikata and Alex Michelsen.
Now entering the 2026 edition as the World No. 9, Shelton arrives as one of the tournament’s leading title contenders. The Dallas Open has moved to the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco and boasts a $2.8 million prize pool along with a deep field.
Denis Shapovalov returns as the defending champion after defeating Ruud in the 2025 final, while American standouts Taylor Fritz, Shelton, Learner Tien, and Tommy Paul headline a strong home contingent alongside international names such as Flavio Cobolli and Grigor Dimitrov.
What Does Shelton’s Doubles Résumé Say About His Versatility on Tour?
Shelton’s doubles career is defined by high-energy performances and high-profile partnerships. On the professional tour, his standout run came at the 2023 Washington Open, where he reached his first ATP doubles final alongside Mackenzie McDonald.
In major competitions, Shelton has found success in mixed doubles, reaching the US Open semifinals in 2023 and the quarterfinals in 2025 alongside compatriot Taylor Townsend. On the men’s side, he frequently teams up with veteran stars, notably reaching the semifinals in Basel (2025) and the quarterfinals in Monte-Carlo (2025) with doubles legend Rohan Bopanna.
