Top-seeded Taylor Fritz is into the final at the Dallas Open after nudging past 37-year-old Marin Cilic, 7-6(5) 7-6(3) on Saturday afternoon, setting an all-American final with Ben Shelton.
Southern California native Fritz is into his 20th ATP final, his first in Dallas and second at the event (Fritz reached the final in 2016 when the event was held in Memphis).
The seventh-ranked American showed no ill effects from the elbow injury that bothered him during his quarterfinal win over Sebastian Korda on Friday as he hammered 22 aces past Cilic
“Just really calm serving. I think that’s the biggest thing when I feel calm and relaxed, I serve well,” Fritz said after his third win in four matches against the 2014 US Open champion and former world No.3.
Fritz never faced a break point, but Cilic hung on, saving all five break points he faced to force tiebreaks in both sets.
It was there that the American showed his steel.
Fritz pulled out to a 3-0 lead in the first-set breaker and never trailed as he converted his third set point to take the lead.
In the second set he trailed briefly but not for long.
The 28-year-old improves to 8-4 on the season and will face Shelton for the third time in Sunday’s final. Shelton edged defending champion Denis Shapovalov, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4), to reach his 6th ATP final and second indoors.
23-year-old Shelton has split his two meetings with Fritz.
Shelton saved 10 of 11 break points against the Canadian and improved to 9-2 on the season and 4-0 lifetime against Shapovalov.
“Just competing, finding a way in the big moments, trusting myself and playing with conviction,” Shelton said after his win. “I was just scrappy, it was a gritty win, and a lot of credit to Denis – the way he is playing on the court it’s extremely difficult [to deal with]. The serve, the backhand, the forehand, the volleys, it’s a freight train coming at you.
“I’m happy to get out of this one. It was a win by the finest margins for sure and I’m not exactly sure how I got out of this one.”