Ben Shelton’s buildup to the 2026 ASB Classic is already turning heads, and the American is making the most of his time in Auckland with girlfriend Trinity Rodman by his side. Ahead of the tournament, Shelton was spotted enjoying a romantic outing with Rodman, savoring Japanese cuisine as they spent quality time together.
While Shelton continues to rise on the ATP Tour, Rodman has carved out her own elite sporting identity in soccer. The dynamic forward represents the United States women’s national team and plays for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL, boasting an impressive list of achievements that includes an NWSL Championship, the league’s Rookie of the Year honor, and an Olympic gold medal in 2024.
Ben Shelton and Girlfriend Trinity Rodman Relish Japanese Cuisine Ahead of His Second-Round Clash in Auckland
Held annually in Auckland, the ASB Classic is one of the key spots in the ATP calendar, serving as a crucial warm-up event ahead of the Australian Open. Just as in the previous tournaments, Rodman accompanied Shelton to the ATP 250 event in Auckland. Earlier this week, the Washington Spirit updated the fans by confirming that the couple had departed the United States and arrived in Auckland for the ASB Classic.
Shelton later gave fans a glimpse into his life in Auckland through an Instagram post. The short clip captured him balancing media duties with demanding on-court sessions at the ASB Tennis Centre as he sharpened his preparations for the days ahead. He simply captioned the video, “First stop of 2026.”
However, going by his latest post, the American has made room for downtime amid his packed schedule. Shelton was recently spotted enjoying Japanese cuisine with Rodman at Auckland’s Masu restaurant, and a clip of the couple’s outing was shared on Instagram by the tournament’s official account.
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Shelton has often chosen to compete at the ATP 250 event in Auckland as a lead-up to the Australian Open. He first competed there in 2023, exiting in the second round as he continued to find his footing on the tour. The following year saw his graph improve, as he advanced to the semifinals before being halted by Taro Daniel. In 2025, he arrived with heightened expectations, but his stay was cut short by a second-round exit.
The 2026 edition presents a new opportunity for Shelton. He enters the Auckland draw as the top seed and has been granted a first-round bye, setting up a second-round clash against Francisco Comesana. It is also worth noting that this will be their maiden encounter on the ATP Tour.
Shelton’s appearance at the ASB Classic comes after a decent 2025 season. He surged to a career-high world No. 5, captured his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto, and earned a spot at the ATP Finals in Turin for the first time.
