Ben Shelton Confident Ahead of Dallas Open Final Against Taylor Fritz

The 23-year-old American has adopted a champion's mentality as he prepares to face the top-seeded Fritz.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Ben Shelton, the second seed, has reached the final of the Dallas Open after defeating Denis Shapovalov in the semifinals. Shelton has reflected on his competitive mindset and is looking forward to facing top seed Taylor Fritz in the title match, acknowledging Fritz's strong form and serving ability but expressing confidence in his own game.

Why it matters

This matchup between the rising American star Shelton and the established top-10 player Fritz will be an intriguing clash as Shelton aims to capture his first ATP 500 title and continue his ascent in the rankings.

The details

Shelton has delivered dominant performances throughout the Dallas Open, winning his matches against Gabriel Diallo, Adrian Mannarino, and Miomir Kecmanović before defeating defending champion Shapovalov in the semifinals. In the final, Shelton will face the top-seeded Fritz, who is in strong form with a powerful serve.

  • Shelton defeated Shapovalov in the semifinals on February 14, 2026.
  • The Dallas Open final between Shelton and Fritz will take place on February 16, 2026.

The players

Ben Shelton

A 23-year-old American tennis player who is the second seed in the Dallas Open and has reached the final after defeating Denis Shapovalov.

Taylor Fritz

The top-seeded American tennis player and World No. 7, who will face Shelton in the Dallas Open final.

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What they’re saying

“No, it's great, you know, I've really made a concerted effort to show up to each tournament this year with the mindset that I want to win it, that I'm there each and every match, putting myself in the position that I need to to compete at the highest level. And so being in the finals, playing against a top 10 guy who's very informed, big serve, good on this court is a great test, a massive test, and exactly where I want to be.”

— Ben Shelton (TennisTV)

What’s next

The winner of the Dallas Open final between Shelton and Fritz will earn their first ATP 500 title of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Shelton's confident and champion's mentality has propelled him to the Dallas Open final, where he will face a tough test against the top-seeded Fritz. This matchup between the rising American star and the established top-10 player promises an exciting conclusion to the tournament.