Ben Shelton’s Girlfriend Trinity Rodman Recalls ‘Splurging’ on Private Jet to Watch Him Lose US Open Final

Ben Shelton will face Arthur Gea in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.

Ben Shelton’s Girlfriend Trinity Rodman Recalls ‘Splurging’ on Private Jet to Watch Him Lose US Open Final

Ben Shelton, Trinity Rodman (Image via NY Post, The Washington Post)

Ben Shelton kicked off his Shanghai Masters campaign with a straight-set win over Daniel Altmaier. He has scheduled his third-round match against Frenchman Arthur Gea.

The Shanghai Masters is the first singles tournament he is playing following the US Open. Shelton was bidding to become the first American man since Andy Roddick‘s victory at the 2003 US Open to win a Grand Slam title.

But his hopes of achieving this were dashed by Alexander Zverev, who clinched a four-set win, taking home his career’s second Grand Slam title. While Shelton was competing at Flushing Meadows, his girlfriend, soccer star Trinity Rodman, was in Washington for her team Washington Spirit’s match against Boston Legacy. Right after her team’s defeat, Rodman booked a private jet and landed in New York when Shelton was losing.

Yeah, after the game, I got on a little private jet. Splurged on that because it’s important to me, and it was such an amazing time, and even though it wasn’t the result that he or I wanted, I think just being there for him in a big moment… So, I think that the cool thing about tennis is you don’t necessarily have to win for it to be a really good achievement.

Trinity Rodman told espnW

Shelton celebrated his 24th birthday with his win in the opening round in Shanghai. During the on-court interview, when he was asked about celebrating his birthday, Shelton revealed, “I hate cake. I hate cake, not a fan of cake at all.“

Shelton is a two-time champion in Masters 1000s events, winning the titles at the 2025 and 2026 Canadian Open. Apart from the Canadian Open, Shelton couldn’t reach the fourth round of the other Masters 1000s he played before Shanghai.

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Ben Shelton on playing at the Shanghai Masters

Ben Shelton is competing in Shanghai for the fourth time in his career. He is a one-time quarterfinalist here, reaching the stage on his debut in 2023. Last year, his campaign ended in the second round.

Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton (Image via TIME)

I had my first big Masters breakthrough here. I had some great wins here. I think it is a special place. I think this is one of the best Masters tournaments on Tour. It is run so well. The center court is great, and for me it has been a great tournament, and I hope to build on some of the success I’ve had here and go a step further and have some real runs here in the future.

Ben Shelton told ATP Media

Shelton has already clinched four titles this season. He beat Taylor Fritz in the finals of the Dallas Open and the Stuttgart Open, Flavio Cobolli at the Munich Open, and Brandon Nakashima at the Canadian Open final, before he lost to Alexander Zverev in the New York Major.

In Shanghai, four-time champion Novak Djokovic suffered an opening-round defeat to Hubert Hurkacz in what was his fourth defeat in the opening round of events this season. Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz will kick off his campaign against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

He will be chasing his fourth title of the season after wins at the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and the Japan Open. In Tokyo, the 23-year-old defeated Jiri Lehecka.

World No.1 Jannik Sinner, who is set to lose his No.1 ranking to Zverev, is not in Shanghai due to a knee injury. He has, in fact, ended his season. Zverev went past Wu Yibing to schedule his next match against Quentin Halys. He is chasing his third title of the season after wins at the French Open and the US Open.

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