Top US Players Fritz and Shelton to Face Off in Dallas Open Final

The No. 1 and No. 2 American men's tennis players will compete for the title in Frisco, Texas.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Top-seeded American Taylor Fritz defeated Marin Cilic in straight sets, while No. 2 seed Ben Shelton came back to beat defending champion Denis Shapovalov in the semifinals of the Dallas Open tennis tournament. The two Americans will now face each other in the final match on Sunday.

Why it matters

This all-American final at the Dallas Open showcases the rising talent in US men's tennis, with the top two American players battling it out for the title in a key tournament ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam events.

The details

Fritz, the world No. 5, cruised past Croatia's Cilic in their semifinal match, winning in straight sets. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Shelton, ranked No. 39, rallied from a set down to defeat Canada's Shapovalov, the defending champion, and advance to the final.

  • The semifinals were played on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • The final match is scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Taylor Fritz

The top-seeded American player, currently ranked No. 5 in the world.

Ben Shelton

The 20-year-old American player, seeded second, who is ranked No. 39 in the world.

Marin Cilic

The Croatian player who was defeated by Fritz in the semifinals.

Denis Shapovalov

The Canadian player who was the defending champion but lost to Shelton in the semifinals.

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What they’re saying

“This is going to be a great final between the two best American players right now. It's always exciting to see the top US talents go head-to-head.”

— John McEnroe, Tennis Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

The winner of the all-American final will earn a significant boost in ranking points and prize money ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments.

The takeaway

The emergence of young American talents like Shelton, combined with the continued success of established stars like Fritz, signals a bright future for US men's tennis on the global stage.