Taylor Fritz dazzles with fiery shot from behind and ‘best comeback in years’ in win in Dallas | ATP Tour

match report

With fiery shooting from behind and ‘best comeback in years,’ Fritz shines in Dallas win

Shelton and Michelson also advanced

February 11, 2026

Taylor Fritz used a late surge to defeat fellow American Marcos Giron in the first round of the ATP 500 at the Nexo Dallas Open. After the pair had met twice before at the event, Fritz won 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(1) on Tuesday night in his first action since the Australian Open.

As Dallas’ top seed for the fourth time in five years, Fritz took advantage of his statistical advantage by taking a 6-0 lead in the decisive tiebreaker. He faced no break points in the final, while Giron saved all four break points in the decider, according to Infosys ATP statistics.

“I know it sounds crazy because I didn’t break serve, but I thought the whole third set was the best set I’ve ever played,” Fritz said afterward. “From a return point of view, I think this is the best return set I’ve played in years.”

Fritz’s victory continued his dominance in the first round of hard-court events, where he went 13-0 last season. The American also improved to 17-1 against players outside the top 50 in the PIF ATP rankings since June and improved to 6-2 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Geelong.

Even before the third-set tiebreaker, there were two bright spots in the first set, including a shot-for-the-year contender. Fritz came up with the gem while searching for the winner from behind after a net rope seemed to bog him down. Fritz also suffered a leg sprain that required early treatment, but he quickly recovered and said the issue was not related to his lingering knee tendonitis.

“The shots I hit were cool, but honestly, it wasn’t that hard,” Fritz said modestly. “It’s good. It’s really one of my only options because I’m moving, I’m in momentum, I’m totally rushing to the baseline to pass, and then, off balance, that’s all I have. But, yeah, it’s an interesting option.”

Ben Shelton also picked up a win on Tuesday, as the second seed defeated Gabriel Diallo 6-4, 6-4. The American saved all three break points against him and improved to 10-1 in first-round matches since Wimbledon.

Marin Cilic defeated sixth-seeded rookie Learn Tien 7-5, 7-6(4) for his 600th tour-level victory, joining Novak Djokovic as the only active players to reach the victory milestone. The win also moved him above fellow Croatian Goran Ivanisevic, who ended his career with 599 tour-level wins.

Britain’s Jack Pinnington Jones also pulled off an upset, defeating fourth seed Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-2, while Alex Michelsen beat Grigor Dimitrov 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.