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Ben Shelton Saves 3 Championship Points to Stun Taylor Fritz for Dallas Title

Ben Shelton mounted a thrilling comeback, saving three championship points in the final set to defeat top-seeded Taylor Fritz and claim the Dallas Open. The 23-year-old American fought back from a set down to secure a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory for his fourth ATP Tour title. Shelton credited his resilience and the crowd's energy for the hard-fought win, which marked his second ATP 500 trophy. Despite the loss, Fritz reached his 20th career tour-level final and will now head to Delray Beach as the top seed.

Key Points: Shelton Saves 3 Championship Points, Beats Fritz for Dallas Open

  • Saved 3 championship points in decider
  • Won 2nd ATP 500 title
  • Improved to 2-1 head-to-head vs. Fritz
  • Fritz reaches 20th tour-level final
2 min read

Shelton saves 3 championship points against Fritz to clinch title in Dallas

Ben Shelton saved three championship points in a dramatic final to defeat Taylor Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 and win the Dallas Open for his fourth ATP title.

"I had to fight until the last minute... I tried to be a competitor through and through. - Ben Shelton"

Dallas, Feb 16

Ben Shelton saved three championship points to defeat Taylor Fritz in Dallas Open final and capture his first title of the season and fourth ATP Tour title.

The 23-year-old roared back from a set down to earn a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory for his second ATP 500 trophy, saving all three championship points in a nervy 10th game of the decider.

With the one-hour, 51-minute victory, Shelton improved to 2-1 in his ATP head-to-head series with Fritz. Since the beginning of 2025, Shelton is 11-4 in deciding-set matches, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, including nine wins from a set down.

"It feels amazing. I thank God, because I needed something super natural to end up winning this tournament with all the holes that I was in. I feel grateful to play five matches out here with these crowds. The energy was amazing," said Shelton after the win.

"I had to fight until the last minute. Fritz was playing very good 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," he added.

Despite falling short in the final, Fritz can reflect on another positive run to his 20th tour-level final. The American No. 1 now heads to the ATP 250 event in Delray Beach, where he is the top seed.

"It was a crazy match, a fun match to be a part of - until the end. Congrats to Ben and his team. He played great and in the end, he played the big points and important moments really well," Fritz said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
As a tennis fan in Mumbai, it's great to see such fighting spirit. The next generation of American players is really exciting. Hope we see more of this quality when the tour comes to India next.
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Vikram M
Respect to both players. Fritz was gracious in defeat. That's true sportsmanship. We need more of this spirit in all sports, not just tennis. The match must have been thrilling to watch live!
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Rohit P
While it was a great match, I do wish the article gave a bit more technical analysis. What exactly did Shelton change after the first set? As a coach here in Pune, those are the details we look for.
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Priya S
Amazing grit from Shelton! Coming from a set down shows his champion mentality. This is the kind of tournament our young Indian players should watch and learn from. The mental game is so important. 🎾

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