Trinity Rodman Rallies After Ben Shelton’s US Open Injury: Supportive Message, Locker-Room Twist, What’s Next
Ben Shelton retired from his US Open third-round match against Adrian Mannarino with a left shoulder injury on Aug. 29, and hours later Trinity Rodman publicly cheered him on with a message of love and grit.
Hi, I am Quinn Parker, and the espresso is doing cartwheels because sports love stories are my cardio. Buckle up, because this one comes with an injury scare, a locker-room punchline, and a girlfriend who quite literally sprinted cross-country to stand courtside.
Here is the core of it. During day six of the 2025 US Open, Shelton grabbed at his left side mid-match and was forced to retire against Adrian Mannarino. In the press conference after, he leveled with reporters, saying, per CNN, I never retired before. I am not a guy who would retire if I could continue. Translation for the rest of us: this was not a choice he made lightly, and if there had been a way to grind it out, he would have.
Enter Trinity Rodman, soccer star and certified hype partner. On Aug. 30 she posted on Instagram Stories, You are strength and dedication. I love you and you will be back stronger. Short, sweet, and just the kind of message that turns a setback into a rallying cry. And yes, that is the same Trinity who made her relationship with Shelton Instagram official back in March 2025, sealing it with a kiss for the grid. Since then, she has been courtside with receipts that she is the number one fan and also the number one roastmaster when needed.
Case in point. After Shelton beat Pablo Carreño Busta on Aug. 24, Trinity crashed the post-match Q and A with a zinger: How did it feel not being able to serve faster than 135 today? He laughed, asked who let her in with a question, then volleyed back that it was cold, he was aiming for spots, and maybe he should serve bigger next time. Playful, flirty, and very much a couple that can turn a stat sheet into inside jokes.
Their schedule has been a whirlwind. Following his first-round win over Ignacio Buse on Aug. 25, Shelton thanked her from the court, noting his girlfriend took a red-eye from California to be there and that they were in it for the long haul. That is not just romance, it is logistics. And it underscores what we saw again this week: Rodman shows up.
The match itself had a curveball ending that tennis fans will quote all season. Mannarino was not even on court when the retirement decision was communicated, and he later joked it was his first time winning the match from the toilets. He also offered respect to Shelton, pointing out that when the pain started, Ben was leading and probably would have won. Honest, gracious, and yes, a little surreal. The commentator’s highlight reel basically writes itself.
For those keeping a timeline, the left shoulder flare-up became the pivot point of Shelton’s campaign in New York, but this is not a story of doom. It is a pause, not a period. And Rodman has made it clear she is about focus and boundaries. During Wimbledon, she called out broadcasters on Instagram for dragging her estranged father into coverage of Shelton’s matches, telling them to keep the spotlight on the guy on court and to leave her family out of it. That post was on July 7, and it was a reminder that she guards both their lanes while still cheering the loudest.
What does recovery look like from here? The immediate takeaway is that Shelton stopped before making a bad situation worse, which is what smart athletes do when body signals go red. Aural evidence from the press room, plus the on-court sequence, supports that this was about physical limitation, not competitive will. The statement from Rodman, meanwhile, doubles as a mantra for his rehab arc. Strength and dedication. It reads like a season motto waiting to be stitched on a hoodie.
And let us not gloss over the chemistry factor. Whether they are trading quips about serve speed or racking up air miles to support each other, this pairing has become one of the most watchable cross-sport alliances of the year. Social media nods, sideline smiles, and now a moment of adversity handled with class. That is how you build a fan base beyond box scores.
If you are scanning for the next breadcrumb, watch Shelton’s medical updates and practice-court sightings, and keep an eye on Rodman’s Stories for those succinct pulse checks. Injuries complicate calendars, but they also sharpen priorities. And given how crisp both of them have been with their messaging, expect clarity rather than chaos.
I will refill my mug and say this plainly. A tough break in Queens, a heartfelt boost from the girlfriend, a French opponent with a bathroom one-liner, and a whole lot of resolve. That is this week’s sports soap, grounded in facts and sprinkled with grit. Whew, that was a lot to gulp in one sip, but I am wide awake and rooting for a swift, smart comeback.
Consider me on alert for the first practice clip, the first retooled serve, and the first courtside grin from Trinity when he rips an ace. Until then, stretch, hydrate, and cue the slow clap for resilience.
Whew. I need to swap the espresso for water after that.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, CNN, Instagram
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