Ben Shelton came from a set down as well as saving three match points on his way to lifting the Dallas Open title with victory over compatriot Taylor Fritz. 

Shelton was made to work in order to lift the fourth ATP title of his career, battling to a 3-6 6-3 7-5 victory in an almost two-hour encounter with Fritz on Sunday. 

An early break from Fritz in the first set was enough to see the top seed take the early lead, but Shelton roared back in the second to ensure the match would go the distance.

Fritz got the better of Shelton's serve in the sixth game of the decider, having been broken earlier on, and a love service game put him within touching distance of the title. 

However, Shelton saved all three of Fritz's championship points, and from there, he dropped just three points as he sealed the win with a blistering forehand over the net. 

"It feels amazing. I thank God, because I needed something supernatural to end up winning this tournament with all the holes that I was in," said Shelton.

"I feel grateful to play five matches out here with these crowds. The energy was amazing. I had to fight until the last minute.

"Fritz was playing very good tennis, and I was struggling a lot with what he was throwing at me.

"I tried to be a competitor through and through, and I ended up coming out on top. I think it's a testament to the work me and my team put in."

Big Ben strikes in Dallas @BenShelton claims the title on home soil after saving three match points to defeat compatriot Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 7-5! @NexoDallasOpen | #DALOpen pic.twitter.com/rVSowg1Zj7

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 15, 2026

Meanwhile, in Buenos Aires, home hopeful Francisco Cerundolo lifted his fourth ATP title with a straight-sets triumph against Italian Luciano Darderi at the Argentina Open. 

A beaten finalist in the same competition in 2021 and 2025, Cerundolo finally got himself over the line with a convincing 6-2 6-4 triumph. 

Data Debrief: Shelton digs deep yet again

Playing in his first tournament since his quarter-final defeat to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open, Shelton delivered a scintillating display that combined grit and determination. 

And with his victory, Shelton made it back-to-back victories over Fritz to improve his head-to-head record against his fellow American to 2-1, but he was put through his paces. 

But that is something he is becoming used to. Indeed, since the beginning of 2025, Shelton is now 11-4 in deciding-set matches, which also includes nine wins from a set down.