Deminal finally triumphs on his third attempt; Shelton saves match points to overturn Fritz and claim the title

In the early hours of February 16th Beijing time, two ATP 500 finals concluded, showcasing two contrasting yet equally thrilling paths to victory: Australia's young gun Deminal broke through on his third try in Rotterdam, embodying the saying “third time’s the charm” with a trophy; meanwhile, American rising star Shelton staged a miraculous comeback in Dallas by saving three match points to snatch the crown.

On the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam, Netherlands, Australia’s top player Deminal finally ended a three-year streak of runner-up finishes. Facing Canadian star Aliassime, who came in with an eight-match winning streak, the Aussie displayed overwhelming dominance, sweeping his opponent 6-3, 6-2 in just 78 minutes to claim the title decisively.

This match held great significance for Deminal. It marked his third consecutive year reaching the final of this ATP 500 event; he had lost to Sinner and Alcaraz in the previous two years, finishing as runner-up. This year, with fans watching, he transformed past disappointments into motivation. The victory not only made him the first player this season to beat Aliassime on indoor hard courts, ending the Canadian’s winning streak, but also secured the 11th ATP title of his career. With this win, his season record improved to 11 wins and 2 losses.

After the match, the Australian expressed his respect for his opponent in his acceptance speech, showing great sportsmanship: “First, I want to say to Felix (Aliassime), I really admire you and your entire team. The way you operate is admirable. You are true competitors. I believe we will have many more battles ahead.”

He then turned to his own team, emotions overflowing: “To my team, to everyone here, the third time was finally the charm. We have finally won the title. … I’m so happy to finally take home the trophy. This has always been one of my favorite tournaments. I love coming back to Rotterdam. Here, I can play at my best and finally got rewarded.” From two consecutive runner-up finishes to finally standing atop the podium, Deminal’s perseverance has written a perfect fairy tale ending for himself.

If Deminal’s victory was the result of steady persistence, then far away in Dallas, Shelton staged a breathtaking escape from the brink of defeat.

In this highly anticipated all-American showdown, second seed Shelton faced top seed and veteran Fritz. The match saw many twists and turns; after dropping the first set, Shelton found himself down 4-5, 15-40 in the deciding set — just half a step from defeat, with Fritz holding two championship points in a row.

However, at this critical moment, Shelton showed his big-match temperament. He first saved the initial match point with a decisive volley, then rescued the second with a precise backhand down the line. Although Fritz earned a third championship point, Shelton fought back fiercely once again and ultimately held serve to level the score at 5-5.

Shaken by missed opportunities, Fritz’s mindset faltered, allowing Shelton to break and hold serve consecutively to complete a stunning comeback with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory. The match lasted 1 hour and 51 minutes. This win not only improved Shelton’s head-to-head record against Fritz to 2-1 but also earned him his fourth ATP title, his first indoor crown, and second ATP 500 victory.

After the match, Shelton also praised his resilient opponent: “That was a crazy match. I want to congratulate Taylor (Fritz). I think your level is incredible. This year, battling adversity, playing injured, showing what it means to be a competitor… you’re a role model for all kids.”

From Rotterdam to Dallas, on the same night, two different kinds of greatness emerged. Deminal’s three years of persistence remind us that if you never give up, time will reward those who quietly toil; Shelton’s comeback from three match points down proves that in competitive sports, as long as the match isn’t over, anything is possible. These two weighty trophies undoubtedly set the stage for the most anticipated upcoming Sunshine Double tournaments.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei )