American tennis star Ben Shelton is heading into the clay-court swing with momentum, and he has the full backing of his girlfriend and US soccer star, Trinity Rodman. Just days before his campaign at the Madrid Open gets underway, Rodman offered a glimpse into their relationship with a public show of admiration, reacting to Shelton’s latest media appearance with a heartfelt compliment.
Trinity Rodman’s Heartfelt Reaction to Ben Shelton’s Madrid Arrival
As Shelton arrived in Madrid ahead of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, he was seen taking part in media activities, with clips of his appearance circulating online. Rodman reshared one such video on her Instagram story, captioning it, “That is a MAN😫🤯❤️🤭😌.”
Shelton and Rodman began dating in early 2025. While Rodman continues to focus on her responsibilities as a forward for the Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League, Shelton balances the demands of a packed ATP Tour schedule. Their relationship has also drawn public interest because Rodman is the daughter of the NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman.
What Challenges Did Shelton Overcome en Route to His Munich Title?
The American tennis star’s recent title run at the BMW Open in Munich marked a significant milestone, as he captured his first ATP 500 crown on clay and his fifth singles title. In doing so, he became the first American man since Andre Agassi in 2002 to win a clay-court title above the ATP 250 level.
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In Munich, Shelton opened with a three-set win over compatriot Emilio Nava, recovering from an early deficit in the decider to close it out 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3. He then edged past Belgium’s Alexander Blockx in two sets, including a tense tiebreak, before navigating a challenging quarterfinal against Brazil’s João Fonseca, where he again needed three sets to advance.
In the semifinals, Shelton defeated Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-4 to reach back-to-back Munich finals after finishing runner-up to Alexander Zverev the previous year. He capped the run with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Flavio Cobolli in the final. The American tennis star also competed in doubles with Ryan Seggerman, though the pair exited in the opening round after a close match against Santiago González and Luciano Darderi.
Looking ahead, fourth seed Shelton will kick off his Madrid campaign with a second-round clash against either Matteo Berrettini or the Croatian qualifier, Dino Prižmić.
