Ben Shelton’s 2026 Australian Open campaign may have ended at the quarterfinal stage, but the American left Melbourne with plenty to feel good about and a clear show of support waiting for him off the court. Shortly after his run was halted, Shelton’s girlfriend, American soccer star Trinity Rodman, publicly backed him with a meaningful message.
Ben Shelton Strings Together Statement Wins During Another Deep Australian Open Run
The 23-year-old was competing in his fourth Australian Open and reached the quarterfinals for a second straight year and third overall. Entering the tournament as the No. 8 seed, Shelton opened his campaign by dispatching France’s Ugo Humbert, then handled Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny with authority.
In the third round, Shelton outplayed 30th seed Valentin Vacherot before producing one of his most impressive wins of the tournament, rallying past 12th seed Casper Ruud to book a high-profile quarterfinal. That set up a clash with two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner, where Shelton ultimately fell in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, to the World No. 2.
After the defeat, Shelton reflected publicly on his experience in Melbourne. He posted a carousel of photos from his Australian Open campaign on Instagram, pairing them with the caption, “Failure only fuels me. Thanks Melbourne.”
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Rodman, who has often been vocal in her support of Shelton, reshared the post to her Instagram Stories with a brief message of encouragement, writing, “Proud of u always.”
How Shelton and Trinity Rodman Make a Public Relationship Work Amid Relentless Schedules?
Shelton and Rodman started seeing each other in early 2025 and later confirmed their relationship publicly that March.
The pair’s ‘Instagram official’ moment, their ‘hard launch’, to use language that only people of a certain generation will recognise or abide by, involved Shelton posting a picture of them smooching in a lift. Textbook.
Since then, they have slowly opened a window into their lives through social media, offering fans occasional, playful glimpses of their bond.
Rodman remains a key attacking presence for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL, while Shelton’s calendar is dictated by the week-to-week grind of the ATP Tour.
Interest in their relationship has been heightened by Rodman’s own prominence, as she is the daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, a globally recognized figure from basketball’s most iconic era.
