DALLAS — Second-seeded American Ben Shelton is moving on to the men's singles final at the Dallas Open, but not before a tense and physically demanding semifinal against defending champion Denis Shapovalov of Canada on Saturday.
Shelton dropped the opening set 6-4, then bounced back with 6-4, 7-6 (4) victories in the two-hour, 36-minute match. Shelton will face fellow American and top seed Taylor Fritz — who defeated Croatian Marin Cilic 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) in the other semi — in Sunday's championship.
Fritz, a 10-time ATP Tour champion, and Shelton split their first two meetings. Shelton has three tour titles.
"Are you guys telling me that's the final you want to see?" Shelton asked, prompting cheers from fans at the indoor football stadium that is also the practice field of the Dallas Cowboys at club headquarters. "I'm super-excited for that matchup."
The seventh-seeded Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., who aced his way through the quarterfinals, only managed four aces against Shelton. Shapovalov finished with 29 winners, 42 unforced errors and two double faults.
Shelton had eight aces, 31 winners, 39 unforced errors and four double faults.
The American had a better first serve percentage (72 to 62), saved 10 of 11 break points, and won one of six break points. Shapovalov only won one of 11 break points.
Both players won 15 of 16 service games and one of 16 return games. They both had six maximum points in a row and both had won three games in a row.
Shapovalov advanced to the semifinals with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 upset victory over third-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain on Friday.
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