Six Pack: Shelton Dethrones Fritz for Sixth Career Title in Stuttgart

By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, June 14, 2026
Photo credit: Boss Open Facebook

Labels can mislead, but Ben Shelton seized a rare title tag today.

In an all-American clash, Shelton dethroned defending champion Taylor Fritz 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on the Stuttgart grass to capture his third title of the season on his third different surface at the Boss Open.

Branding himself a champion for all surfaces, Shelton has now collected championships on grass, clay (Munich) and the hard court of Dallas becoming the first American man since Sam Querrey in 2010 to win titles on three different surfaces in the same season. Shelton joins world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who has won five titles in 2026, as the second man to claim three or more championships this year.

The second-seeded Fritz, who carried a 5-0 record in grass-court finals into today’s championship match, suffered his first lawn final loss dropping to 10-11 in career Tour-level finals.

Shelton served 70 percent and saved nine of 11 break points. Fritz hit more aces (14 to 9), more winners (40 to 32), won more net points (10 to 7) and earned eight more break points in the final than his left-handed opponent. Ultimately, Shelton’s variety, his skill shifting spins and willingness to go bold on big points helped him prevail over Fritz for the second time in a final this year.

On February 15th, Shelton saved three championship points serving at 4-5 in the decider sparking a gritty 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 comeback conquest of Fritz in the thrilling all-American Nexo Dallas Open final. It was Shelton’s fourth career title and he did it relying on superb serving, fast hands and fearless net play with the match on the line. 

Talk about toughness on turf, Shelton’s sheer refusal to lose helped him rise on the Stuttgart lawn. Shelton denied Fritz’s quest to become the first man to successfully defend Stuttgart since Thomas Muster won back-to-back Stuttgart championships in 1995-1996 back when the tournament was staged on red clay and the Austrian left-hander seemed indestructible on dirt.

The 2025 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Shelton saved three match points along the way to a wild title ride. 

Tiebreak titan Shelton saved two match points in the second-set tiebreaker battling past Jiri Lehecka 6-7(4), 7-6(14), 7-6(6) in an exhilarating Boss Open semifinal yesterday.

It was Shelton’s first career Top 20 victory on grass and marks the second time he’s saved a match point in this tournament. Shelton also saved a match point in edging compatriot Marcos Giron in round two.

The left-hander who had battled from behind the entire tournament, flipped the script building a one-set lead.

On his second break point, Shelton slammed a forehand down the line that hit the baseline and skidded underneath Fritz’s head racquet for the break and a 2-1 lead.

Facing triple break point in the next game, Shelton saved all three break points, including carving a drop shot winner on the third, as he roared back to consolidate for 3-1.

The defending champion threatened serve in the eighth game with a pair of break points. Shelton used a clever lob and soft dropper to save the second then dabbed another drop-shot winner that helped him hold for 5-3 after 35 minutes.

Before a packed Stuttgart crowd that included Hall of Famer Boris Becker and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, Shelton slammed down his first love hold of the set to snatch a one-set lead.

Continuing to press, Fritz finally broke through in the second game of the second set. Shelton attacked and Fritz’s backhand hit the top of the tape and skipped over the top seed’s racquet as Fritz broke for 2-0.

Fritz threw down his third love hold of the final to extend his lead to 3-0.

In full flow, Fritz was crunching his groundstrokes  and targeting the left-hander’s backhand. Handcuffed by a return, Shelton shoveled a drive long to face set point. A clean Fritz drive helped him bang out a second break and force a final set after 70 minutes.

It also empowered Fritz to serve first in the final set.

When Fritz hammered a return right down the middle, it elicited an errant Shelton slice for double break point in the sixth game.

Unleashing the body serve to save the first break point, Shelton drew Fritz forward with a forehand drop shot then knocked a high volley off the second seed’s frame that helped him hold for 3-all.

Firing his 14th ace, Fritz held at 15 for a 4-3 lead.

Though Shelton is one of the game’s most explosive players, he shrewdly spun the soft stuff to entice errors for the key break.

Befuddled by a short Shelton slice, Fritz netted a backhand and slapped his thigh in frustration falling behind 15-30. Shelton slammed a forehand strike down the line for break point at 30-40.

Blasting a return right back at the body, Shelton broke for 5-4 when Fritz mis-hit a forehand, framing his reply high in the sky and flipping his Head racquet aside in disgust.

Attacking net, Shelton slammed a smash for double championship point.

The left-hander detonated a biting body serve, closing his third championship of the season in one hour, 48 minutes embracing Fritz at net.