Taylor Fritz, the top seed, will face Ben Shelton in the Dallas Open final on Sunday after both overcame tough semi-final matches.

Fritz, ranked seventh in the world, reached his 20th ATP final — his first since last September’s Japan Open — by defeating Croatian veteran Marin Cilic 7-6(5), 7-6(3), firing 22 aces and never facing a break point.

“I did a really good job just holding serve, getting through a lot of those games,” Fritz said. “I generated good opportunities to grab a break on him, but he played really well, served really well on all the break points.”

The 25-year-old is chasing his 11th career title and first since his fourth Eastbourne crown last June. Cilic, 37 and the 2014 US Open champion, hit 16 aces but committed eight double faults.

Fritz dominated the tie-breakers, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first, serving consecutive aces for a 6-3 advantage, and closing it out with his 14th ace. In the second tie-break, he sealed the match on his first opportunity after Cilic’s service return flew long.

“Had to get it done in tie-breakers,” Fritz added. “I did a good job of just playing solid points, making a ton of first serves and making him work.”

In the other semi-final, Ben Shelton overcame defending champion Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 6-4, 7(7)-6(4). Shelton saved a critical break point in the 11th game and then captured the deciding tie-breaker, extending his ATP head-to-head record against Shapovalov to 4-0.

“There wasn’t a big difference,” Shelton said. “I played clutch in the big points. He had a lot of chances to break serve, and I came up with the goods. Happy to get out of that one.”

Fritz and Shelton are 1-1 in ATP head-to-heads, with Fritz winning at Indian Wells in 2023 and Shelton claiming victory in last year’s Canada semi-finals. Both will now battle for the Dallas Open title.