Ben Shelton has moved into the third round of the 2026 Australian Open with two straight-set wins. His girlfriend, American soccer star Trinity Rodman, has been following his run from afar and showing her support as Shelton continues his promising start in Melbourne.
Trinity Rodman Supports Ben Shelton After Second-Round Win in Australian Open
Shelton has opened his Australian Open campaign with back-to-back victories, once again showing how comfortable he is at Melbourne Park. In the second round, he dominated Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the third round.
Sweeny came into the match full after qualifying for the main draw and scoring a first-round upset over Gaël Monfils. But Shelton’s powerful game and big serve took control, and the home favorite was unable to keep up.
The American was quite in control throughout the match. He fired 19 aces and committed just two double faults. Shelton won 38 of his 43 first-serve points and dropped only 11 points on serve overall, which gave Sweeny very few chances to get back into the match.
MORE: Ben Shelton Issues an Apology to Australian Open Crowd After Triumphant Act Against ‘Fan Favorite’
Rodman made sure her support was noticed. After Shelton’s second-round win, she shared an Instagram story reposting a Tennis Channel post that said, “Shelton Powers Into Third Round.” She had also shared similar stories after his first-round victory, supporting her boyfriend throughout the opening week.
With the win, Shelton reached the third round at the Australian Open for the fourth year in a row. He has now made at least the third round in 10 of his last 11 Grand Slam tournaments and in 11 of the 14 majors he has played, which again shows his growing consistency.
Shelton Will Face Valentin Vacherot in the Third Round
Shelton is set to face in-form Vacherot in the third round of the Australian Open. It will be a rematch of their 2022 Las Vegas Challenger meeting, where Shelton won a close three-set win. Since then, Vacherot has made significant improvements, rising to a career-high ranking of No. 30 after a breakout 2025 season that included a Shanghai Masters title, notable wins over Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune, and a quarterfinal appearance at the Paris Masters.
Shelton has looked sharp in Melbourne, defeating Ugo Humbert and Dane Sweeny in straight sets. His serve has been a significant weapon. His recent form and power on hard courts give him a slight edge, but Vacherot’s consistency from the baseline and momentum make him a real threat.
Another break seals it.
Valentin Vacherot takes the second set 6-3, and finds himself one set away from the third round at #AO26 🤝 pic.twitter.com/qos4uRx8fD
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2026
According to PFSN’s exclusive interactive simulator, Shelton has a 61% chance of winning. He is favored to reach the second week, backed by his 13-3 record at the Australian Open and his past win over Vacherot.
