Ben Shelton Wins Gripping Dallas Open Final, Saving Three Championship Points

DALLAS, TX – February 15, 2026 – Ben Shelton secured his fourth ATP Tour title on Sunday at the Nexo Dallas Open, overcoming a tough challenge from Taylor Fritz in a thrilling final. The 23-year-old American saved three championship points to earn a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory, claiming his second ATP 500 trophy and his first indoor title.

Shelton Stages Comeback Against Fritz

The match between the top two seeds proved to be a high-octane battle. Shelton, after dropping the first set 3-6, rallied to capture the second 6-3. The deciding set saw a back-and-forth struggle, with Shelton facing three match points whereas serving at 5-6 down. However, he displayed composure under pressure, holding serve and then capitalizing to close out the match 7-5.

Fourth Title for Rising Star

This victory marks Shelton’s fourth ATP Tour title following previous wins that demonstrate his growing prowess on the tour. He previously won an ATP 500 title in Tokyo in 2023. Shelton’s path to the Dallas Open title was marked by resilience, as he navigated four deciding-set battles throughout the tournament.

Shelton’s Journey Through the Dallas Open

• 1st Round: Ben Shelton beat Diallo 6-4, 6-4
• 2nd Round: Ben Shelton beat Mannarino 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (4-7), 6-3
• Quarterfinals: Ben Shelton beat Kecmanovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
• Semifinals: Ben Shelton beat Shapovalov 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
• Final: Ben Shelton beat Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 7-5

Shelton Reflects on the Victory

“It feels amazing. I thank God, because I needed something supernatural to end up winning this tournament with all the holes that I was in,” Shelton said after the match. “I feel grateful to play five matches out here with these crowds. The energy was amazing. I had to fight until the last minute. Fritz was playing very decent tennis and I was struggling a lot with what he was throwing at me. I tried to be a competitor through and through and I ended up coming out on top. I think it’s a testament to the work me and my team put in.”

Fritz, the No. 9 player in the ATP rankings, lost the first set in each of the last three rounds of the tournament before ultimately falling to Shelton in the final.