Shelton Saves 3 Championship Points, Fights off Fritz for 4th Title in Dallas – Tennis Now

By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, February 15, 2026
Photo credit: Nexo Dallas Open

Back to the wall, Ben Shelton staved off three championship points with bold forward flash.

Shelton saved three championship points serving at 4-5 in the decider sparking a gritty 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 comeback conquest of top-seeded Taylor Fritz in today’s thrilling all-American Nexo Dallas Open final.

“First and most importantly I want to thank God,” Shelton said. “Having experiences like this there’s nothing like it. I appreciate everyone coming out. 

“I want to congratulate Taylor. This was a crazy match to be a part of. I thought your level was amazing. What you’ve done this year dealing with adversity, fighting through injuries, the competitor you are, you’re an inspiration to every kid watching at home the way you compete day in and day out and I want to congratulate you.”

It was the third straight comeback conquest for Shelton, who rallied from a set down defeating Delray Beach champion Miomir Kecmanovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, dethroned defending champion Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in last night’s semifinals then dropped serve to start today’s match before surging past Fritz in one of the best comebacks of his young career.

It is Shelton’s fourth career title and he did it relying on superb serving, fast hands and gutsy net play with the match on the line. 

Down 4-5 and three match points in the decider, Shelton hit a clean backhand winner behind Fritz to deny one championship point and slammed two smashes to draw even at deuce. Shelton carved a backhand drop volley to set up a volley winner as he stood tall amid severe stress holding for 5-all.

Pained by that near miss, Fritz missed a pair of backhands then spit up his lone double fault of the day to face triple break point. On the second break point, Fritz fired a drive deep as Shelton broke for 6-5 with a booming “Come on!”

 Though Shelton shot out to a 40-Love lead serving for the title, Fritz fended off two championship points himself.

On the third championship point, a patient Shelton measured a forehand, took a bit off his drive down the line and closed a fierce fight in one hour, 51 minutes.

The two top seeds both served with authority. Fritz fired 14 aces against one double fault and won 88 percent of first-serve points. Shelton smacked 16 aces against no double faults and fought off five of seven break points.

Though Fritz is one of the cleanest ball strikers in the sport, owns an imposing serve and a bigger backhand than Shelton, ultimately Shelton’s comfort level at net, his all-court acumen and his sheer guts taking over at net on those championship points proved to be pivotal.

“I just want to say congrats to Ben, it was a crazy match,” Fritz said. “A fun match to be a part of up until the end, but congrats to Ben and his team. 

“You played great and in the end played the big points, important moments, good, so congrats on the win.”

The final clash between two top-ranked Americans marked the first time the top two seeds met in the final since top-seeded Kevin Anderson defeated No. 2-seeded Sam Querrey in the 2018 title match. It was the first time two Top 10 players contested the final since 2002 when the tournament was staged in San Jose and the young world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt fended off fifth-ranked Andre Agassi.

In an ideal start, Fritz tore through 12 of the first 13 points bracketing two love holds around a break at 15 for a 3-0 lead.

The Fritz first serve was first rate in the opener. Fritz won three of his first four service games at love, served 72 percent and was 18 for 18 on first-serve points in the opener.

Hammering his forehand crosscourt to Shelton’s weaker backhand wing helped Fritz fly to a 5-3 lead after 21 minutes.

The only real stress for the top seed came when he served for the set. Shelton pressed Fritz to deuce but was moving backward when he netted a poor drop shot to face a second set point. Fritz drew the forehand error snatching the opening set after 25 minutes.

Amping up his energy level and exhorting himself with loud “come ons!” Shelton twice fought off break points in the second set.

The left-hander lashed the whipping wide serve saving a break point and holding for 2-1. 

The 2024 US Open finalist Fritz, who stamped two more love holds in the set, earned another break point in the seventh game.

Changing up his serve pattern, Shelton pumped an ace down the T to erase it, eventually holding for 4-3.

Those lost opportunities haunted Fritz, who ballooned a forehand long then watched Shelton burn him with the running forehand pass for triple break point. A flat-footed Fritz slapped a low backhand into the middle of the net as Shelton scored his first break for 5-3.

Serving for the second set, Shelton smoked his 14th ace to open, deployed a clever drop-shot lob combination then banged the body serve sealing the second set and forcing a decider after one hour of play.

Three games into the third set, Shelton was targeting the Fritz forehand and it paid off. 

A 14-shot baseline rally ended with Fritz narrowly hooking a forehand wide to face break point. Showing high shot tolerance, Shelton smacked a running forehand strike ending a 12-shot rally with a bang breaking for 2-1 and pounding his palm against his chest.

Shelton worked through a challenging hold at 30 to stretch his lead to 3-1.

Though speed isn’t Fritz’s forte, he showed a brilliant burst digging out a drop shot that got him to 30-all on the Shelton serve. 

The second seed netted a meek backhand slice then sprayed a forehand wide as Fritz broke back forging a 3-all tie.

World No. 7 Fritz was one point from lifting the title going up 15-40 on the Shelton serve in that 10th game.

Shelton threw down a smash to erase the first championship point then surprised Fritz cracking his backhand behind the top seed to deny championship point No. 2.

On the third championship point, Shelton snapped another smash. When Fritz missed a backhand, Shelton gained match point. Showing soft hands, Shelton flicked a drop volley to set up a volley winner and earned that hard-fought hold for 5-all.

Shelton denied Fritz an 11th title beating the higher-ranked American for the second time in three meetings.