American tennis star Ben Shelton opened his 2025 US Open campaign with a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse on Sunday. The sixth seed looked comfortable on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but it was his post-match comments that caught attention when he gave a sweet shout-out to his girlfriend, US women’s soccer star Trinity Rodman.
What Did Ben Shelton Say About Trinity Rodman?
When asked how he planned to spend the unusual two-day break before his second-round match, one more day than he’s accustomed to, Shelton mentioned hitting the practice court and improving a few things.
Adding to it, he said, “Obviously, two days off, have some free time. My girlfriend took the red-eye from California last night to be here, so yeah, we’re here for the long haul, and yeah, just looking forward to it.”
“My girlfriend took the red-eye from California last night to be here.”
Ben Shelton shouts out Trinity Rodman for making his US Open match less than 24 hours after her NWSL game ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NuFneJYbGL
— ESPN (@espn) August 24, 2025
The Washington Spirit forward has been a constant presence at his matches all season, celebrating every milestone, from his breakthrough at the Canadian Open in Toronto to his rise into the top ten.
Rodman celebrated Shelton’s win by uploading a post featuring the American from the first-round match on her Instagram story with hugging emojis.
Rodman herself returned to action just weeks ago, scoring a stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory over the Portland Thorns in her NWSL comeback. She came off the bench in the 72nd minute and found the net four minutes into stoppage time, showcasing the clutch performances that have defined her US women’s national team career.
Read More: Ben Shelton’s Girlfriend Trinity Rodman Reacts to Him Being ‘Ready’ for US Open 2025
On August 23, 2025, just hours before boarding her flight to New York, Rodman and her team secured a 3-2 win against Bay FC in California.
The US Open First-Round Match Between Shelton and Buse
During the same interview, Shelton was asked about how he felt being the first player on Arthur Ashe for a second year. He replied, “It’s starting to feel like home for me. This is the best court in tennis – favorite place to play, favorite tournament. Opening day, first match, there’s always a bit of nerves, but I’m happy to be out here, and I’m really appreciative of everyone who came out.”
Shelton’s first-round match showcased why he’s considered a US Open favourite. The American saved all five break points he faced while converting four of his own break opportunities against Buse.
Despite hitting just five aces, his fewest in any Grand Slam match win. Shelton controlled the encounter from start to finish, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and seven minutes. The victory extends an impressive streak, as Shelton is now 21-0 against unseeded opponents at Grand Slams since the start of 2024.
Coming into the tournament as the sixth seed and ranked No. 6 in the world, this marks Shelton’s first US Open as a top-10 player. His path to this seeded position included that breakthrough Canadian Open title in Toronto, where he became the first American to win the tournament since Andy Roddick in 2003.
For his second-round match on Wednesday, Shelton will face either veteran Pablo Carreño Busta or qualifier Pablo Llamas Ruiz.
