The ATP 500 Dallas Open has reached the final stage of the event. Now it is all about winning the title. Casper Ruud is seeded at the second spot and will play his first finals of the 2025 season. So will Denis Shapovalov. Dennis could win his third ever title and Ruud his13th. This the second time ever these two square of in a final.
The 26 year old Oslo native has won 12 titles on the ATP Tour to date. Eleven of those have been won on the surface clay. The only title Ruud has ever won that is not on clay was in San Diego on outdoor hardcourt (2021). Ruud is very motivated to show the world of tennis that he can win on other surfaces too. A title in Dallas would prove a point. Casper is currently ranked at the 5th position. Ruud’s start to the 2025 season has been very good with nine wins in ten matches.
The Russian born Canadian has faced a lot of adversity on and off the court over the past couple of years. The 25 year old Denis has won two titles so far in his career. Stockholm in 2019 Belgrade late last season. The title in Belgrade was something of a turnaround for Shapovalov after a rough 2024. Denis is unique on the ATP tour since he plays with a oneramed backhand and is a lefthander. His current ranking is at number 54 and his highest ever was at number 10 back in 2020. Shapovalov has won six out of nine matches he has played on the ATP Tour in 2025.
Casper and Denis have faced each other twice on the ATP Tour. These matches were both played on clay. Ruud, of course, won them both since he is a specialist on clay. The first one was the final in Geneva 2021 and the second one in Rome the following year.
Shapovalov took care of the defending Champion Tommy Paul in the semis. He won in two sets. Denis got the better of Machac in the QF and he defeated the top seed, Fritz, in the second round. Shapovalov started out his campaign in Dallas by beating Kecmanovic. Ruud took care of Munar in the semis (2-1). He beat Nishioka i the QF and Mmoh in the round of 16. Casper got the better of Duckworth in the opening round of the ATP 500 Dallas Open.
