Bold headline-worthy moment: Ben Shelton edges past Denis Shapovalov in a dramatic Dallas semifinal to set up a showdown with Taylor Fritz. And this is where the excitement really heats up for the home crowd.
It’s shaping up to be a head-to-head between the two top American men competing for the title at the ATP 500 event this Sunday.
Published Feb 15, 2026
Shelton faced a stern test against Shapovalov. The Canadian was entering with an eight-match Dallas-winning streak, having claimed the indoor crown last year. Notably, three of those wins came against Top 10 opponents—defeating Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Casper Ruud on the way to last year’s final.
For a stretch, it looked like Shapovalov’s streak might continue. He captured the first set and even earned four break chances during Shelton’s 2-all service game in the second. After dropping that set, Shapovalov pressed again in the third, holding two break points in Shelton’s 1-all service game and threatening an even more dangerous break at 5-all.
But Shelton stayed solid under pressure. He staved off every threat, and when the match reached a tiebreak, he elevated his game. He seized three consecutive points from 3-all to reach triple match points, then sealed the victory two points later with a blistering crosscourt forehand.
Final tally: Shelton 111 points, Shapovalov 111 points.
This result ensures Shelton advances to the Dallas final, where he’ll square off against Fritz for the championship.
