Ben Shelton had to withstand a grueling battle against top seed and compatriot Taylor Fritz to clinch the 2026 Dallas Open title. The 23-year-old saved three match points to deny Fritz his first trophy of the season. While Shelton’s resilience stood out, he was quick to credit Fritz’s level and competitiveness in his post-match remarks.
Ben Shelton Heaps Praise on Taylor Fritz Post-Dallas Open Final
Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz emerged from a demanding draw to set up the Dallas final. Top seed Fritz advanced with wins over Marcos Giron, Brandon Nakashima, and Sebastian Korda before overcoming Marin Čilić in the semifinals. Shelton, the world No. 9, defeated Gabriel Diallo, Adrian Mannarino, and Miomir Kecmanović, then sealed his spot in the title clash by beating Denis Shapovalov in the semifinals.
Fritz seized early control, claiming the opening set 6-3 and appearing poised to close out the contest. But Ben Shelton responded in kind, winning the second set 6-3 to level the match and shift the momentum.
The deciding set turned into a tense, hard-fought battle. Shelton held his nerve at a critical juncture, saving three championship points in a gripping 10th game before edging the set 7-5 to seal the title. The 23-year-old took 1 hour, 53 minutes to improve his head-to-head record against Fritz to 2-1.
Despite eventually getting past Fritz, Shelton was candid in praising his opponent’s performance after the match.
“This was a crazy match to be a part of. I thought your level was amazing, what you have done this year, dealing with adversity.”
Shelton praised Fritz for his resilience in the face of injuries and his relentless competitiveness. He also applauded Fritz’s team, described him as an inspiration, and urged young players to take note of his relentless work ethic.
“You know, fighting through injuries, nags here and there. The competitor that you are. The work that your team does, you are an inspiration to all. I think that every kid at home should watch how hard you compete day in and day out when you are not feeling 100 percent, and I just want to congratulate you guys. You’re doing amazing work,” he said.
View this post on Instagram
It is worth noting that Taylor Fritz has continued competing despite an ongoing knee issue, the severity of which he addressed ahead of the United Cup. Even at the recently concluded Dallas Open, he displayed impressive form while managing visible discomfort from tendinitis, underscoring his competitive resolve. Now it remains to be seen how Fritz’s season unfolds.
