Top Americans Fritz and Shelton Set for Dallas Open Final

The world's highest-ranked American men's tennis players will face off for the Dallas Open title.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Top-seeded Taylor Fritz and No. 2 Ben Shelton both won their semifinal matches at the Dallas Open on Saturday night, setting up a final between the two highest-ranked American men's tennis players. Fritz, ranked 7th in the world, defeated Marin Cilic in straight sets, while Shelton, ranked 9th, rallied from a set down to beat defending champion Denis Shapovalov. This will be the third career meeting between the two Americans, with Fritz and Shelton splitting their first two matchups.

Why it matters

The all-American final at the Dallas Open is a significant event, as it features the two highest-ranked American men's tennis players competing for a prestigious ATP Tour title. The match will showcase the depth and talent of American men's tennis, which has seen a resurgence in recent years with young stars like Shelton emerging alongside established players like Fritz.

The details

In the semifinals, Fritz had 22 aces in his 7-6(5), 7-6(3) victory over Cilic, while Shelton sparked his comeback against Shapovalov with a scintillating crosscourt forehand winner while facing three break points early in the second set. Shelton went on to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4). Fritz, a 10-time ATP Tour champion, and Shelton, who has three tour titles, have split their first two career meetings.

  • The semifinal matches took place on Saturday night, February 14, 2026.
  • The final between Fritz and Shelton is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Taylor Fritz

The top-seeded American player, ranked 7th in the world, is a 10-time ATP Tour champion.

Ben Shelton

The No. 2 American player, ranked 9th in the world, is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at the 2026 Australian Open.

Marin Cilic

The unseeded Croatian player, a former U.S. Open champion, was seeking his 600th career singles victory.

Denis Shapovalov

The defending champion at the Dallas Open, the Canadian player was seeded 7th in the tournament.

Jannik Sinner

The Italian player defeated Shelton in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open.

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What they’re saying

“Are you guys telling me that's the final you want to see?”

— Ben Shelton (Instagram)

“I'm super-excited for that matchup.”

— Ben Shelton (Instagram)

What’s next

The final between Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The takeaway

The all-American final at the Dallas Open showcases the depth and talent of American men's tennis, with the two highest-ranked American players competing for a prestigious ATP Tour title. This match-up will be an exciting and highly anticipated event for tennis fans.