Taylor Fritz dazzles in Dallas win with behind-the-back hot shot and ‘best returning in years’ | ATP Tour

Match Report

With behind-the-back sizzling shot and ‘finest returning in years’, Fritz dazzles in Dallas win

Shelton, Michelsen additionally advance

February 11, 2026

In a Nexo Dallas Open rubber match, Taylor Fritz used a late surge to defeat fellow American Marcos Giron within the opening spherical on the ATP 500. After the pair break up two earlier conferences on the occasion, Fritz prevailed Tuesday night time, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(1), in his first motion for the reason that Australian Open.

The highest seed in Dallas for the fourth time in 5 years, Fritz made his statistical superiority rely by storming to a 6/0 lead within the deciding tie-break. He didn’t face a break level within the ultimate set, whereas Giron saved all 4 towards him within the decider, in keeping with Infosys ATP Stats.

“I do know it sounds loopy, as a result of I did not break serve, however I believe that entire third set is the perfect set of tennis I’ve returned,” Fritz mentioned post-match. “From a returning serve standpoint, that is the perfect returning set I’ve performed in years, I believe.”

Fritz’s victory continued his dominance within the opening spherical of hard-court occasions after posting a 13-0 mark on such events final season. The American additionally improved to 17-1 towards gamers outdoors the High 50 of the PIF ATP Rankings since June and 6-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head collection with Giron.

Lengthy earlier than the third-set tie-break, there have been two flash factors within the opening set, together with a shot-of-the-year contender. Fritz got here up with the gem when he went behind the again for a winner after a internet wire appeared to go away him stranded. Fritz additionally required early therapy for a tweak in his leg, however he rapidly recovered and mentioned the problem was not associated to his lingering knee tendinitis.

“The shot I hit is cool, but it surely’s actually not that tough to hit,” Fritz mentioned modestly. “It was good. It was a kind of the place it was really the one choice I had, as a result of I used to be transferring, my momentum, I used to be totally lunging to the down-the-line cross after which, off steadiness, it was sort of all I had. However yeah, it was a enjoyable one.”

Ben Shelton additionally earned a Tuesday win, with the second seed notching a 6-4, 6-4 victory towards Gabriel Diallo. The American saved all three break factors towards him and improved to 10-1 in opening rounds since Wimbledon.

Marin Cilic earned his 600th tour-level win with a 7-5, 7-6(4) upset of sixth seed Learner Tien, becoming a member of Novak Djokovic as the one lively gamers to succeed in that wins milestone. The victory additionally moved him previous fellow Croatian Goran Ivanisevic, who ended his profession on 599 tour-level wins.

Nice Britain’s Jack Pinnington Jones additionally sprung an upset, beating fourth seed Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-2, whereas Alex Michelsen knocked off Grigor Dimitrov 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.