Denis Shapovalov delivered a statement performance at the Dallas Open, capping off a stellar week by securing the biggest title of his career with a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory over Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final. The win marks the Canadian’s 3rd ATP title and his first at the 500-level.
Heading into the match, Ruud had held a 2-0 advantage in their head-to-head, though the pair had never met on a hard court. Shapovalov, playing on his preferred surface, seized control with his aggressive shot-making and powerful serve to flip the script and take down the World No. 5.
“This is the biggest title of my career,” Shapovalov said during his on-court interview. “I had a chance against [Daniil] Medvedev a couple of years ago in Vienna, but he played an incredible match after losing the first set. I’m really happy I stayed strong this time and got the win.”
The 25-year-old left-hander blazed through the draw, collecting three victories over Top 10 opponents. He stunned 4thranked Taylor Fritz in the 2nd Rd., overcame defending champion and World No.9 Tommy Paul in the semi-finals, and capped it off with his triumph over Ruud. He became just the 4th player to defeat 3 Top 10 opponents in an ATP 500 or 250 event since the categories were introduced in 2009, following in the footsteps of Grigor Dimitrov (2017 Brisbane), Juan Martin del Potro (2018 Acapulco), and Nick Kyrgios (2019 Acapulco).
Shapovalov’s first serve proved to be a weapon throughout the tournament, and it was no different in the final. He struck 13 aces and used his sharp angles and net-rushing tactics to dictate play. The opening set remained on serve, forcing a tiebreak where Shapovalov found the edge. A crucial backhand passing shot earned him a mini-break at 3-1, though Ruud fought back to level. The Norwegian saved one set point with a fortunate net cord, but he then netted a forehand, handing Shapovalov the set.
Buoyed by momentum, the Canadian secured an early break in the second set to go up 2-0 and never looked back. Ruud had brief opportunities to claw back, but Shapovalov’s fearless shot-making shut the door each time. Serving for the title at 5-3, he found himself down 15-30 but responded with a spectacular stretch volley and two consecutive smash winners before dropping to the court in celebration.
With the title, Shapovalov rockets up the rankings, climbing to No. 32 in the ATP standings—his highest ranking since September 2023, and will now be a likely seed for Masters and Slams for the remainder of 2025. His return to form follows a gruelling battle with injury, as he was sidelined for much of last season with a knee issue that dropped him as low as No. 140 in the world.
“There were a lot of times where I didn’t know if I was going to step back onto the tennis court, if I was even going to come back at all,” Shapovalov admitted earlier in the week. “There were tough days when I couldn’t even step with my leg because my knee was hurting. It’s incredible to be playing the way that I am now. I’m definitely very happy to feel like my game is coming back.”
All 3 of Shapovalov’s ATP titles have come on indoor hard courts, with previous triumphs in Stockholm (2019) and Belgrade (2024). With his renewed confidence and impressive level of play, the Canadian has sent a clear message – he’s back, and he’s ready to challenge at the top of the tennis tree once again.
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