Denis Shapovalov and Ben Shelton produced a thriller in the Dallas Open semi-final, as Shelton secured his place in the final in three sets.
The match was a tight affair and Shelton needed a deciding tie-break to confirm his first-ever final in Dallas.
Shelton has been impressive in Dallas, but his semi-final match with Shapovalov wasn’t without controversy.
The Canadian was particularly unhappy at one stage of the clash and even threatened to walk away from the match.
Denis Shapovalov wanted a spectator removed during his match with Ben Shelton
Shelton vs Shapovalov truly could have gone either way and both men looked incredibly dominant on their serve.
During the match, Shapovalov was unhappy when a crowd member shouted out during his serve, which detailed the semi-final.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
The Canadian was irate and pleaded with the umpire to throw the spectator out of the arena at the American tournament.
Shapovalov could be heard telling the umpire: “Tell them I’ll walk off the court right now,” as the contest became incredibly tense.
The 26-year-old went a set up in the contest, but then lost the next two as he crashed out of the competition.
Nevertheless, the Dallas Open has been a major success for Shapovalov, who reached his first semi-final since the Stockholm Open in October.
Denis Shapovalov enjoys ranking rise after the Dallas Open
Shapovalov is a long way from his career ranking high of World No. 10, but he’s made progress on the ATP Tour thanks to his semi-final appearance at the Dallas Open.
The Canadian started the tournament at world number 40 in the rankings, but he’s climbed five places after collecting 190 points.
What is your bold prediction for the 2026 tennis season?
The star has overtaken the likes of Ugo Humbert, Joao Fonseca, and Jaume Munar to become the new world number 35.
If the 26-year-old continues his ranking rise, he could be set for seeded entry into the next Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
The top 32 players gain seeded entry, which ensures they do not play another top-ranked player until the third round.
