“For me, playing on clay, there’s not much to lose and a lot to gain. I want to be great on this surface one day,” a determined Ben Shelton admitted after his Madrid Open loss to Jakub Mensik. Despite a rocky patch following his AO semi-final run, including a final loss at the BMW Open and early exits in Rome and Madrid, his love for clay never faded. True to his belief that his form peaks at Grand Slams, Shelton roared back with a gritty five-set triumph over Lorenzo Sonego at Roland-Garros opening day. His motivating factor?
Ben Shelton survived a major scare under the lights of Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday, battling back from 2 sets to 1 down to edge out Lorenzo Sonego in a dramatic 1st-round showdown at Roland-Garros. In a rematch of their AO quarter-final clash earlier this year, the 13th-seeded American once again proved too strong for the Italian ace, sealing a 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory and improving to 2-0 against Sonego in 2025.
Shelton showcased his trademark athleticism across the grueling 3-hour, 31-minute contest, firing 15 aces and dominating the decisive set with fearless baseline play. And right after the win, Shelton pointed to the crowd as his driving force, crediting their energy and support for fueling his comeback in the Parisian night.
Speaking to the crowd after his dramatic win over the Italian, Ben Shelton opened up about the intensity of the match and how he had braced for it even before stepping on court. “Yeah, this was a tough one, for sure. I played Lorenzo [Sonego] in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. I know he is a big match player, a Grand Slam player, and you guys saw some of the hot shots tonight, some crazy tennis from him, and I love sharing the court with him,” he said.
He then turned his attention to the electrifying Philippe-Chatrier crowd, who stood behind him through every twist of the match. “But for me, I thought the crowd was great. It was my first time being out here at on Philippe Chatrier. It definitely won’t be one that I forget. Thanks, everybody, for coming out, thanks for the support. I know it’s late tonight, but I appreciate the energy,” he added with gratitude, his voice still echoing the adrenaline surge of the match.
Ben also revealed his disbelief upon learning he would play on the iconic center court rather than court 7. “I love playing out here. I thought it was a typo at first [being scheduled in Philippe Chatrier]. I thought it was a mix-up and that it was actually court 7. But no, I was really excited. I couldn’t believe it. For me, Grand Slams are my favorite four tournaments, and playing on the stadium courts at these tournaments is an honor, really special,” Shelton shared.
Before the match, Shelton also witnessed the emotional farewell ceremony for Rafael Nadal, an experience that deeply moved him and served as an unexpected inspiration. “Obviously, having Rafa’s ceremony night right before the match, it gives you goosebumps just being out here on this court. So, get a win in this fashion that I did, five sets, late at night, was a dream come true, and I’m really looking forward to the second round after this one,” he addressed.
And as he advanced in the Parisian clay, his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, couldn’t help but gush over Shelton’s incredible performance in Paris.
Trinity Rodman showing her passion for Ben Shelton
Remember that viral elevator snap Ben Shelton shared in March? The one where NSWL star Trinity Rodman was planting a sweet kiss on his cheek, while he captioned it, “I been focused, but I’m steady climbin’, I’m nowhere near my peak.” Trinity, the estranged daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, cheekily responded, “Shooters shoot I guess .” The post instantly made waves across social media, making their relationship official and winning the hearts of fans everywhere. And now, after Shelton’s gritty display on the Parisian clay, Trinity showed her love and admiration in the most heartfelt way possible.
During his thrilling 5-set battle against Lorenzo Sonego, the American took a medical timeout at the end of one set for treatment on his left ankle. Knowing just how much it took for her partner to push through and clinch the victory, Trinity took to her IG story to show her support: “I’m in awe of you .”
This isn’t the 1st time Rodman has shown up to cheer for Shelton. On April 19, she joined Ben in the players’ box during the semi-final of the BMW Open in Germany. It marked the 1st time the USWNT star publicly supported her boyfriend from such close quarters, a gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by fans or cameras.
Now, with this hard-fought win behind him, Shelton advances to the 2nd round of the French Open, where he will take on either Hugo Gaston or Ugo Blanchet. However, the question remains: can Shelton continue to climb and make a deeper run in the tournament?
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