Shapovalov stuns Ruud to claim ATP Dallas title

Denis Shapovalov of Canada, aged 25, achieved a remarkable victory at the Dallas Open on Sunday, triumphing over Norway's fifth-ranked player, Casper Ruud, aged 26, with a score of 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, thereby securing his third ATP title.

As an unseeded player, Shapovalov became only the fifth individual since 2020 to eliminate the top three seeds en route to an ATP championship and the fourth since 2009 to defeat three top-10 players while competing for a 250- or 500-level title.

Earlier in the tournament, Shapovalov eliminated two local favorites, defeating world number four Taylor Fritz in the second round and the ninth-ranked defending champion, Tommy Paul, in the semi-finals.

This 500-level trophy marks the most significant achievement of Shapovalov's career, following his previous victories in Stockholm in 2018 and Belgrade last November, and it comes after a challenging recovery from injuries sustained since mid-2023.

"I have been dealing with some challenging knee injuries. It has been a long journey back," Shapovalov remarked. "It has been difficult to secure titles and regain momentum on the court, but my team and those close to me have consistently supported me, guiding me back to the right path whenever I faced setbacks. These titles, in Belgrade and this one, would not have been possible without their support."

Following this victory, Shapovalov is set to rise 22 positions to 32nd in the ATP rankings next week, having been ranked 127th at the same time last year.

In the match, Shapovalov delivered 12 of his 13 aces during the first set and did not face a single break point, yet he encountered a tough challenge in securing the tie-breaker against the second seed, Ruud, who committed only eight unforced errors in that set.

Ruud's cross-court forehand went wide, granting Shapovalov a 5-4 lead in the tie-breaker, and he subsequently hit a backhand long, yielding two set points. Although Ruud saved the first with a net cord winner, he ultimately netted a forehand, allowing Shapovalov to claim the first set.

Shapovalov broke Ruud's serve in the second game of the second set and had two additional break opportunities in the fourth game before Ruud managed to hold serve, narrowing the score to 3-1.

Shapovalov executed three successful drop shots to secure a 4-1 lead, maintained his serve to reach 5-2, and concluded the match after one hour and 40 minutes with a decisive overhead smash.

"An incredible performance throughout the week," Ruud remarked regarding Shapovalov. "It is wonderful to see you back in such fine form. It was a bit frustrating today, but truly impressive."

This match marked Ruud's first defeat in three encounters with Shapovalov, who prevented the Norwegian from claiming his 13th career ATP title.

Shapovalov recorded 46 winners against 31 unforced errors, while Ruud achieved 23 winners with only 14 unforced errors.