Photograph credit score: Boss Open Fb
Labels can mislead, however Ben Shelton seized a uncommon title tag at the moment.
In an all-American conflict, Shelton dethroned defending champion Taylor Fritz 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on the Stuttgart grass to seize his third title of the season on his third totally different floor on the Boss Open.
Branding himself a champion for all surfaces, Shelton has now collected championships on grass, clay (Munich) and the onerous court docket of Dallas changing into the primary American man since Sam Querrey in 2010 to win titles on three totally different surfaces in the identical season. Shelton joins world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who has received 5 titles in 2026, because the second man to assert three or extra championships this yr.
The second-seeded Fritz, who carried a 5-0 file in grass-court finals into at the moment’s championship match, suffered his first garden closing loss dropping to 10-11 in profession Tour-level finals.
Shelton served 70 p.c and saved 9 of 11 break factors. Fritz hit extra aces (14 to 9), extra winners (40 to 32), received extra web factors (10 to 7) and earned eight extra break factors within the closing than his left-handed opponent. In the end, Shelton’s selection, his ability shifting spins and willingness to go daring on large factors helped him prevail over Fritz for the second time in a closing this yr.
On February fifteenth, Shelton saved three championship factors serving at 4-5 within the decider sparking a gritty 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 comeback conquest of Fritz within the thrilling all-American Nexo Dallas Open closing. It was Shelton’s fourth profession title and he did it counting on very good serving, quick fingers and fearless web play with the match on the road.
Discuss toughness on turf, Shelton’s sheer refusal to lose helped him rise on the Stuttgart garden. Shelton denied Fritz’s quest to change into the primary man to efficiently defend Stuttgart since Thomas Muster received back-to-back Stuttgart championships in 1995-1996 again when the event was staged on pink clay and the Austrian left-hander appeared indestructible on grime.
The 2025 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Shelton saved three match factors alongside the best way to a wild title experience.
Tiebreak titan Shelton saved two match factors within the second-set tiebreaker battling previous Jiri Lehecka 6-7(4), 7-6(14), 7-6(6) in an exhilarating Boss Open semifinal yesterday.
It was Shelton’s first profession High 20 victory on grass and marks the second time he’s saved a match level on this event. Shelton additionally saved a match level in edging compatriot Marcos Giron in spherical two.
The left-hander who had battled from behind all the event, flipped the script constructing a one-set lead.
On his second break level, Shelton slammed a forehand down the road that hit the baseline and skidded beneath Fritz’s head racquet for the break and a 2-1 lead.
Going through triple break level within the subsequent recreation, Shelton saved all three break factors, together with carving a drop shot winner on the third, as he roared again to consolidate for 3-1.
The defending champion threatened serve within the eighth recreation with a pair of break factors. Shelton used a intelligent lob and tender dropper to avoid wasting the second then dabbed one other drop-shot winner that helped him maintain for 5-3 after 35 minutes.
Earlier than a packed Stuttgart crowd that included Corridor of Famer Boris Becker and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, Shelton slammed down his old flame maintain of the set to grab a one-set lead.
Persevering with to press, Fritz lastly broke by way of within the second recreation of the second set. Shelton attacked and Fritz’s backhand hit the highest of the tape and skipped excessive seed’s racquet as Fritz broke for 2-0.
Fritz threw down his third love maintain of the ultimate to increase his result in 3-0.
In full circulate, Fritz was crunching his groundstrokes and focusing on the left-hander’s backhand. Handcuffed by a return, Shelton shoveled a drive lengthy to face set level. A clear Fritz drive helped him bang out a second break and drive a closing set after 70 minutes.
It additionally empowered Fritz to serve first within the closing set.
When Fritz hammered a return proper down the center, it elicited an errant Shelton slice for double break level within the sixth recreation.
Unleashing the physique serve to avoid wasting the primary break level, Shelton drew Fritz ahead with a forehand drop shot then knocked a excessive volley off the second seed’s body that helped him maintain for 3-all.
Firing his 14th ace, Fritz held at 15 for a 4-3 lead.
Although Shelton is likely one of the recreation’s most explosive gamers, he shrewdly spun the tender stuff to entice errors for the important thing break.
Befuddled by a brief Shelton slice, Fritz netted a backhand and slapped his thigh in frustration falling behind 15-30. Shelton slammed a forehand strike down the road for break level at 30-40.
Blasting a return proper again on the physique, Shelton broke for 5-4 when Fritz mis-hit a forehand, framing his reply excessive within the sky and flipping his Head racquet apart in disgust.
Attacking web, Shelton slammed a smash for double championship level.
The left-hander detonated a biting physique serve, closing his third championship of the season in a single hour, 48 minutes embracing Fritz at web.
