ATP Dallas: Denis Shapovalov downs Casper Ruud, wins title

A yr in the past, Denis Shapovalov was world no. 127. On Monday, the Canadian will return to the top-40 for the primary time since October 2023 following the ATP 500 crown in Dallas! The 25-year-old ousted three top-10 gamers en path to a career-best title.

Denis needed to wait over 5 years so as to add the second ATP trophy to his assortment. It got here in Belgrade in November final yr and gave him a lift. Lower than three months later, the Canadian is a proud proprietor of the ATP 500 trophy.

Shapovalov bested Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Casper Ruud en path to the title in Dallas. Denis and Casper performed an entertaining remaining, and the youthful participant scored a 7-6, 6-3 victory in an hour and 40 minutes.

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 9, 2025

Shapovalov claimed eight factors greater than Ruud. The lower-ranked participant denied the one break level he provided to his rival and mounted the stress on the opposite facet. Casper served at 75% however couldn’t take the benefit of that.

The Norwegian performed towards 5 break factors and suffered one break within the second set. The opening set noticed just one break level. Ruud denied it within the third sport with a forehand down the road winner and prevented an early setback.

Denis Shapovalov & Casper Ruud, Dallas 2025© Stream screenshot

Denis fired an ace within the sixth sport for a maintain at love and held at 30 two video games later with one other booming serve for 4-4. The Canadian missed a backhand within the twelfth sport whereas serving to remain within the set, sending the Norwegian two factors from the opener.

Nonetheless, Shapovalov stored his composure and held with a volley winner for 6-6 and extra drama. Denis cracked a backhand down the road winner within the fourth level and solid a 3-1 benefit. He positioned a forehand lengthy within the sixth level and introduced his rival again to 3-3.

Denis Shapovalov, Dallas 2025© Stream screenshot

The Norwegian performed a wild forehand within the ninth level, falling 5-4 behind. Casper performed towards two set factors at 4-6 and denied the primary after a fortunate internet twine winner. Nonetheless, he netted a forehand on the second, permitting Shapovalov to take the opener 7-6 in 56 minutes.

The Canadian attacked on the return within the second sport of the second set and transformed the second break level with a smash winner. He confronted the one break level within the subsequent sport and fired a booming forehand winner to disclaim it and cement the benefit.

Ruud performed one other free service sport at 0-3. He missed sport factors and provided his opponent two break factors. A top-10 participant denied them and held, remaining inside one break deficit. Denis left these probabilities behind and closed the following sport with a drop shot winner.

The Canadian grabbed the seventh sport with a robust serve and served for the trophy at 5-3. Shapovalov landed a smash winner for a match level and seized it with a tremendous assault and a winner on the internet, celebrating his career-best title.