Nexo Dallas Open Draws Record Crowds to The Star in Frisco

Ben Shelton outlasted Taylor Fritz at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco to claim the Nexo Dallas Open championship, local reporting and tournament photos show, capping a week the tournament described as record-breaking for attendance and local business. The event, the Nexo Dallas Open, is the tournament’s second year in Frisco after moving from SMU in 2025 and is part of the ATP 500 series, one of only two indoor ATP 500 events in the United States.

Star Local Media coverage and on-court images capture Shelton celebrating after defeating Fritz in the deciding match; one caption reads, “Ben Shelton points to the sky in celebration after defeating Taylor Fritz in the 10th game of a deciding match.” A related-content headline on a national feed listed Taylor Fritz as the winner, a direct contradiction to the local reporting and photos that identified Shelton as champion.

Organizers and regional media framed the week as a major economic boost for Frisco. WFAA and Sports Yahoo noted that last year’s tournament drew nearly 62,000 fans over nine days, boosting hotels, restaurants and local businesses, and this year’s coverage repeatedly called 2026’s crowd record-breaking. CBS provided a short-term snapshot during the week, reporting that “about 18,000 people have already passed through the gates since Friday,” and CBS also highlighted a $500,000 top prize tied to the event’s luxury fan experiences.

Fan amenities at The Star expanded from the SMU site, with thousands packing updated courtside seating, a fan village of vendor shopping and food options, and multiple premium clubs. CBS described the Choctaw Club offering free blackjack and ground-level views for box-seat patrons, the Comfort Loge Suite as an elevated grandstand option, and the Frisco Social Club as an open-air platform with views of both courts. Practice access remained a draw for fans, CBS noted there are four practice courts available for up-close viewing without premium tickets.

On-court drama beyond the final included Taylor Fritz signing autographs after his semifinal win over Marin Cilic, captured in event photography, and Tommy Paul surviving a third-set tiebreaker to beat Jenson Brooksby earlier in the week. Francis Tiafoe was repeatedly identified in coverage as a fan favorite. Young local attendee Olivia Deitch told local TV, “I love it so much. It’s my whole life. It’s what I want to do,” underscoring the tournament’s role in inspiring area youth.

Tournament organizers and title partner Nexo have highlighted sponsorship dollars as funding for community tennis court renovations and for bolstering the event’s long-term footprint in the region, with officials linking the Dallas Open’s growth to Frisco’s broader sports-tourism profile ahead of major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Radio personality DeDe McGuire described the box-seat experience: “Up close and personal. I mean, like, really getting a chance to watch what's going on and seeing how fast that ball is going, like the way they're hitting and the power.”

The tournament ran through Feb. 15 at The Star in Frisco, drawing a full field of more than 60 ATP Tour players in singles and doubles across the week. Organizers and city officials will need to publish official attendance totals, final prize-money breakdowns and a final match confirmation from ATP records to resolve the conflicting reports in national feeds; for now, local reporting and event imagery at The Star identify Ben Shelton as the week’s champion.