Canada’s Denis Shapovalov completed a remarkable giant-killing run to lift the ATP Dallas Open title on Sunday, defeating Norway’s world number five Casper Ruud 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. The unseeded 25-year-old secured his third career ATP title and the biggest of his career, following previous victories in Stockholm (2018) and Belgrade (2023).
Shapovalov’s victory was particularly impressive as he became only the fifth player since 2020 to eliminate the top three seeds on the way to an ATP title and just the fourth since 2009 to defeat three top-10 players en route to a 250- or 500-level trophy.
The Canadian’s journey to the title saw him dispatch two American favourites on home soil, defeating world number four Taylor Fritz in the second round before overcoming defending champion Tommy Paul, ranked ninth, in the semi-finals.
The Dallas triumph marks a significant milestone for Shapovalov, who has been battling knee injuries since mid-2023. Speaking after the match, he credited his team and support system for helping him through the challenging period.
“I’ve been facing some difficult injuries with the knee. It has been a long road back,” Shapovalov said. “Struggles to get some titles, to get that momentum going back on the court, but my team and the people close to me have kept lifting me up. Belgrade and this one would not be possible without these titles.”
The victory will see Shapovalov climb 22 places to 32nd in the ATP rankings next week, a significant rise considering he was ranked 127th at this point last year.
In a tightly contested first set, Shapovalov fired 12 of his 13 aces and never faced a break point. However, Ruud, the second seed, kept the pressure on with just eight unforced errors, pushing the set into a tie-break. Shapovalov edged ahead after Ruud sent a cross-court forehand wide, and he secured the set after Ruud netted a forehand on set point.
Shapovalov carried the momentum into the second set, breaking Ruud’s serve early and using a series of drop-shot winners to maintain his advantage. Despite Ruud’s efforts to fight back, Shapovalov closed out the match with an overhead smash after an hour and 40 minutes.
“Incredible effort all week,” Ruud said of Shapovalov after the match. “Great to see you back playing so well. A little bit annoying today, but really great.”
Ruud, who was aiming for his 13th career ATP title, suffered his first loss in three meetings against Shapovalov.
The Canadian’s aggressive style proved decisive, with 46 winners to 31 unforced errors, compared to Ruud’s 23 winners and 14 unforced errors. Shapovalov’s victory not only brings him silverware but also serves as a statement of his resurgence on the ATP circuit.
