A return trip to the Dallas Open appears to be just what the doctor ordered for Denis Shapovalov.
The defending champion had gone 1-4 in his last five matches before this week, losing to Joao Fonseca twice at the end of 2025 (Basel and Paris) before being crushed by Raphael Collignon (Brisbane) and Marin Cilic (Australian Open) at the start of 2026. Shapovalov is back on track 5, in Raphael to Raphael Collignon (Brisbane) and Marin Cilic (Australian Open) in early 2026. Aleksandar Kovacevic, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Next up for the 40th-ranked Canadian is a fourth meeting with Shelton, who sweeps the head-to-head series 3-0. The ninth-ranked American won three times in 2024 – at Wimbledon (in five sets), in Washington (by default while on 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 shape. The No. 2 seed will advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and so far this week he has defeated Gabriel Diallo, Adrian Mannarino, and Miomir Kecmanovic.
Shelton is used to playing in front of his home team and has enjoyed a rise in the game in the past, so Shapovalov’s title defense may be over.
Pick: Shelton at 3
