Ben Shelton’s Dallas Open triumph was measured in miles per hour, but the most pivotal moment of the afternoon had nothing to do with the scoreboard. It came off his racquet at full throttle, a blistering serve that missed more than just the returner and briefly cast a shadow over what would become one of the most dramatic wins of his career.

The 21-year-old rallied past top seed Taylor Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, saving three match points to capture the title and secure his fourth ATP Tour crown. But amid the comeback, a tense second-set moment momentarily shifted attention away from the baseline.

Unleashing one of his trademark serves, Shelton fired an ace that rocketed through the service box and continued toward the back of the court, where a ball girl narrowly avoided being struck. The crowd gasped as the near-miss unfolded in real time, raising brief concerns about player safety and the potential consequences.

Shelton immediately turned to check on the ball girl before resuming play, and no further action was taken. The chair umpire did not issue a code violation, warning, or stoppage of play, as the ball was struck as part of a valid serve and no contact occurred.

Shelton’s quick check on the ball girl, who was unharmed, sufficed before action resumed. Under the ATP Tour’s Code of Conduct, such an incident falls under ball abuse rules, which prohibit players from “violently, dangerously or with anger” hitting, kicking, or throwing a tennis ball outside the reasonable pursuit of a point, or doing so “dangerously or recklessly within the court” or “with disregard of the consequences.”

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When these rules are violated, the ATP follows a progressive disciplinary system. Violations can trigger the Point Penalty Schedule: a first offense typically draws a warning, a second a point penalty, a third a game penalty, and a fourth (or immediate severe case) potential disqualification/default by the tournament supervisor.

The consequences become far more severe when physical contact occurs. More seriously, if the action is deemed physical abuse (unauthorized touching of an official, opponent, spectator, or other person, including ball personnel), it can lead to immediate default, as seen in Novak Djokovic’s 2020 US Open disqualification after unintentionally striking a line judge in the throat.

Ultimately, whether a penalty is imposed depends on several contextual factors. Intent, recklessness, and outcome, such as no contact or injury, heavily influence the chair umpire’s and supervisor’s decision.

In Shelton’s case, the serve was a legitimate shot (an ace in play), with no contact, no apparent recklessness or anger, and no injury – meaning disqualification risk remained theoretical and minimal, though the near-miss understandably sparked a momentary safety scare.

This kept the incident a fleeting safety highlight rather than an escalating controversy, underscoring how razor-thin margins in high-speed play can evoke memories of past defaults, like Djokovic’s, without crossing into punishable territory.

On the scoreboard, however, Shelton remained flawless when it mattered most. The world No. 9 improved to 4-0 in ATP finals and claimed his second ATP 500 title, reinforcing his reputation as one of the Tour’s most dangerous big-stage performers.

The win further strengthened his position inside the top 10. Shelton now sits more than 600 ranking points ahead of 10th 10th-ranked Alexander Bublik. The margin gives him valuable breathing space in the standings.

The Dallas final also carried historic significance. It featured the highest-ranked American men in the event’s current era. The tournament had not seen such a matchup since 2022.

After defeating Fritz in the final, Shelton shared an emotional message. He thanked God, his team, and his family for their support throughout the week. 

He also praised the fans, saying, “I appreciate everybody for coming out. This is one of my favorite atmospheres I’ve ever played in.”

Shelton later turned his attention to his opponent. The American battled through physical challenges all week.

Praising Taylor, Shelton added, “What you’ve done this year dealing with adversity, fighting through injuries and nags here and there.. the competitor that you are, the work your team does, you’re an inspiration to all I think that every kid at home should watch how hard you compete day in and out when you’re not feeling 100%.”

Shelton’s serve has already earned a reputation as one of the fastest on tour. Ball kids and fans have often reacted quickly to his deliveries. Several close calls have been recorded over the past year.

One notable incident came at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in 2025. While serving for the opening set against Gabriel Diallo, Shelton fired a sharp ace down the T. The ball curved into the stands and appeared to nick a front-row spectator’s leg.

Shelton immediately reacted with concern and checked on her. “Sorry. Are you okay? My bad,” he said, apologising. The fan assured him she was fine.

Just seconds earlier, chair umpire of the match, Jimmy Pinoargote, had issued a warning. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you are sitting in the first row, when the players are serving, please pay attention. The ball is coming really fast,” he said. The speed of Shelton’s serve made the warning timely.

Shelton later shared the moment on social media. “Scary that almost nailed someone… nastiest serve I hit fr”. 

Similar close calls with ball kids have also occurred, including one during his title run at the Masters 1000 event in Canada.

Ben Shelton shares heartfelt message for Canadian Open ball kids

Last year, Ben Shelton defeated Karen Khachanov to win the Canadian Open. The final ended 6-7, 6-4, 7-6(3) after a tight battle. It was one of the biggest titles of his career.

However, during the trophy ceremony, Shelton took a moment to thank the ball kids. His powerful serves had made their job especially difficult. A local rule required them to make attempts to catch.

“I want to thank the ball kids. You guys have a policy here where when we hit a serve, you’re supposed to try to catch it out of the air. And I’m not sure who came up with that.”

He was clearly impressed by their reactions and courage. 

“It seems a little bit dangerous, but a few of y’all caught. I hit it like 230 (kmph). You caught it out of the air. Surely, you guys have some kind of career in professional sports. Because that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. If there are any broken fingers, I’m sorry.”

Shelton’s serve is built on explosive mechanics. He starts with both hands together, racquet in the left and ball in the right. His motion then builds rhythm and balance.

He tosses the ball calmly while raising his left arm into position. At the same time, he brings his feet together to generate momentum. Both feet align parallel to the baseline.

As the ball rises, Shelton drops into a deep crouch. His shoulders coil as he prepares to explode upward. The motion stores energy before release.

At the peak of the toss, he launches into the shot. The upward drive creates Bens’ trademark pace and power. The result is one of the fastest serves on tour.

Even his former college coach has praised the action. “It’s explosive. It’s like a rocket shooting up off the ground,” said Scott Perelman, longtime assistant coach at the University of Florida.

Now, Shelton has opened the new season with a title. His confidence and momentum are rising again. 

As the Sunshine Double approaches, his booming serve will once more command attention from fans and rivals alike.