A return trip to the Dallas Open is proving to be just what the doctor ordered for Denis Shapovalov.
The defending champion had been 1-4 in his last five matches prior to this week, coming up short against Joao Fonseca twice at the end of 2025 (Basel and Paris) before getting crushed by Raphael Collignon (Brisbane) and Marin Cilic (Australian Open) at the start of 2026. Shapovalov has gotten back on track at the Dallas ATP 500 with victories over Rafael Jodar, Aleksandar Kovacevic, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Up next for the 40th-ranked Canadian is a fourth meeting with Shelton, who is sweeping the head-to-head series 3-0. The ninth-raked American prevailed three times in 2024 — at Wimbledon (in five sets), in Washington (via default while at match point in the second-set tiebreaker), and at the Shanghai Masters (6-3, 7-5).
This should be another good one, because Shapovalov loves life in Dallas and Shelton is in great form. The No. 2 seed is coming off an Australian Open quarterfinal appearance and so far this week he has defeated Gabriel Diallo, Adrian Mannarino, and Miomir Kecmanovic.
Shelton generally thrives playing in front of the home crowd and he has enjoyed the upper hand in this matchup in the past, so Shapovalov’s title defense may come to an end.
Pick: Shelton in 3