Ben Shelton did not just achieve a victory in Dallas – for him, it was a deeply personal battle. After an intense three-set confrontation, the young American talent dedicated his triumph to a family member facing a struggle that goes far beyond tennis. At the Nexo Dallas Open, Shelton overcame a rigorous test against the crafty French left-hander, Adrian Mannarino, triumphing with a thrilling 7-6(2), 6(4)-7, 6-3, which propelled him to his 25th quarterfinal in ATP tournaments.
Mannarino, who was recently the runner-up in Montpellier, managed to neutralize Shelton’s explosive serve at several moments, dragging him into long rallies – including an impressive 29-shot rally that opened the tie-break of the first set. However, when the crucial points arrived, Shelton’s power game made its presence felt. “I knew it was going to be a battle,” Shelton admitted in a post-match interview, before making an emotional revelation.
“This is for my grandmother. She has been fighting a lot, and I was trying to fight hard here on the court too.” This moment immediately transformed the perspective of the match, where the competitive intensity was equally fueled by concern off the court.
Shelton has reiterated that having his family present is essential for keeping him grounded during the relentless ATP tour routine. During last season’s Wimbledon, he described how traveling with loved ones is crucial for his mindset. “Yes, it’s huge… we’re staying in a house. Having friends and family, people to spend time with, is nice,” he said at the time. He added that the moments shared during long seasons make tournaments more meaningful – not just professional milestones, but life memories. For Ben Shelton, Thursday’s victory clearly falls into this latter category.
The American now advances to the quarterfinals in Dallas for the second time and will face Miomir Kecmanović in his next match. However, regardless of the future outcome, Shelton’s message made it clear that sometimes, tennis is about much more than rankings and trophies. That night, it was about the strength of family reflected on a tennis court.
Despite moving forward, Shelton was not entirely satisfied. He acknowledged the physical wear and the tactical challenge that Mannarino posed, especially with his ability to absorb speed. This was the fifth time Ben Shelton faced Adrian Mannarino, and although he secured victory in their last encounter, the American still trails in their head-to-head record, with 2-3.
Speaking about the hard-fought battle against the Frenchman in the Round of 16 at the Dallas Open, the match was an explosion of skill, grit, and high-speed tennis. After more than two and a half hours of relentless exchanges, Ben Shelton finally overcame Adrian Mannarino – but not without acknowledging how brutal the contest was. The encounter had it all: Mannarino forced a decisive set by converting his sixth set point, after letting four previous opportunities slip at 6-5 – two of which Shelton erased with powerful aces. The veteran Frenchman even produced an impressive no-look tweener winner, which quickly became one of the contenders for shot of the year.
However, Shelton found another gear in the final set. According to ATP statistics, the 23-year-old won 52% of return points in the third set – a sharp increase from 32% and 31% in the first two sets. This final push proved decisive in this epic battle. Shelton did not hold back in describing the match. “Ridiculous tennis,” he said in his on-court interview.
He elaborated further while speaking with the ATP media: “I knew it would be a tough battle. I think Adrian played at an extremely high level, as he always does against me. We’ve had incredible matches against each other, and in the last one, I got injured against him at the US Open.” The American admitted it was a real fight from start to finish. “It was definitely a battle. He does a lot of things that make the game very, very difficult. Especially when you play against him on a covered court where the bounce is quite slow.”
This slower indoor surface in Dallas clearly amplified Mannarino’s flat and slick shots—forcing Shelton to maintain his patience and recalibrate his offensive instincts. With the victory, Shelton secured his second quarter-final in Dallas and improved to 7-2 for the 2026 season. The next challenge is Miomir Kecmanović, who surprised Tommy Paul in the last match of the day. Who do you think will come out on top in this crucial matchup?
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