Ben Shelton’s singles campaign at the 2026 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship came to a screeching halt on Friday, April 3, but he didn’t have to process the loss alone. Following a taxing three-set defeat in the singles quarterfinals and his doubles outing, the American star received a public show of support from his girlfriend, NWSL star Trinity Rodman.
Rodman, who has been a mainstay in Shelton’s player box throughout the week in Houston, made a heartwarming gesture after the match to back the world No. 9.
Trinity Rodman Champions Ben Shelton in Houston
Top seed and 2024 champion Ben Shelton was expected to cruise into the semifinals of the ATP 250 event, but world No. 83 Thiago Agustín Tirante stunned the American to notch up his second win against a top-10 opponent. After Shelton clinched the opening set in a tiebreak, his momentum was halted by a medical timeout as he received treatment on his neck and shoulder area. Tirante then took control of the match and pulled off a stunning 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 upset.
The world No. 9 had little time to dwell on his loss as he returned to the court shortly afterward for doubles action. Partnering with his former University of Florida teammate Andrés Andrade, Shelton channeled the disappointment over his singles exit into a dominant semifinal performance. The duo dismantled the pairing of Rinky Hijikata and Ryan Seggerman with a clinical 6-1, 6-2 victory.
After Shelton’s emotional rollercoaster at the event, Trinity Rodman shared a sweet picture of them together, captioned “Love You,” to lift his spirits after his singles loss.
Shelton had been that same source of comfort for Rodman months earlier, holding her as she broke down on the sidelines after the Washington Spirit’s 1-0 loss to Gotham FC in the 2025 NWSL Championship final.
MORE: Ben Shelton Accompanied by Girlfriend Trinity Rodman in Houston After Illness Struggle
Shelton Has Been a ‘Huge Support’ for Rodman
Rodman has previously praised Shelton for being a steady source of support during what she described as the “hardest” period of her life, as she battled injuries at the start of their relationship. She expressed happiness that the two were able to push through such a challenging phase together.
“I would say Ben was huge in that support, and it’s so funny because it was like the start of our relationship. Rough! Rough timing for Ben. It was literally like the beginning of our relationship. I’m going through, like, the hardest time of my life… I’m really happy we made it out of that,” Rodman told the “Friendlies” podcast in 2025.
The NWSL star also acknowledged his patience in handling her emotional ups and downs, saying, “He just gets it and understands me and dealt with my psychotic behaviors because I was just like this every day. I’m very happy that he was there for me.”
Ben Shelton will continue to enjoy his girlfriend’s support as he sets his eyes on his maiden ATP doubles title in Houston. The American has opted to skip the Monte-Carlo Masters and will return to action at the Madrid Open, which begins on April 22.