Shelton leaves Paul to secure a spot in the Dallas Open final

Tommy Paul (26) secured a spot in the Dallas Open final by defeating fellow American Ben Shelton (21) with a score of 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday. This victory puts him in contention for his second ATP Tour title.

Ranked 15th globally, Paul demonstrated his prowess by winning 27 out of 37 first-serve points (73%) and 14 out of 22 on his second serve (64%), ultimately eliminating the 16th-ranked Shelton in a match lasting 79 minutes.

Reflecting on his performance, Paul noted the favorable conditions of the courts, which allowed him to maintain control over the ball and play to his strengths. Despite some shortcomings in his serving, he managed to clinch crucial service games throughout the match.

This win marks a significant achievement for Paul, breaking a six-match losing streak against top-20 opponents and securing his place in his fourth career ATP final.

Paul acknowledged the pressure of facing Shelton, stating that every service game felt crucial, but his ability to handle the pressure contributed to his success.

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Tommy Paul has secured a spot in the championship match at the Dallas Open after defeating his fellow American Ben Shelton in the semi-finals. The victory sets up a showdown against the winner of the later semi-final clash between American Marcos Giron and French fourth seed Adrian Mannarino.

Paul, who clinched his only ATP title at Stockholm in 2021, has had mixed results in tour finals, with losses at Acapulco and Eastbourne last year following his breakthrough run to the semi-finals of the 2023 Australian Open.

In his first ATP semi-final since Toronto last year, Paul delivered a commanding performance to level his head-to-head record against Shelton at 2-2. While Paul emerged victorious in their previous encounter at the Australian Open quarter-finals, Shelton had bested him in the fourth round at the US Open and in Tokyo, where Shelton secured his maiden ATP title.

Paul seized control early in the match, breaking Shelton’s serve to establish a 3-2 lead and eventually claiming the opening set with four consecutive game wins. The second set saw a tightly contested battle, with Paul securing a crucial break to take a 2-1 lead and both players holding serve until the end.

Awaiting Paul in the final is the winner of the match between Marcos Giron and Adrian Mannarino. Giron, currently ranked 67th in the world, scored an upset victory over top seed Frances Tiafoe in the quarter-finals. On the other hand, Mannarino, ranked 17th globally, boasts an impressive record in ATP finals, with victories at Rosmalen, Winston-Salem, Newport, Astana, and Sofia in recent years.

As Paul looks to add another ATP title to his resume, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the Dallas Open.