Aug 29, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Ben Shelton (USA) reacts after winning the third set against Adrian Mannarino (FRA) (not pictured) on day six of the 2025 US Open tennis tournament at Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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Tennis Legend Sends Strong Message to Ben Shelton Following Heartbreaking 2025 US Open Injury Exit

Ben Shelton left disappointed after retiring early in the 2025 US Open.

Fans’ hopes of a long US Open run for Ben Shelton got shattered after the 22-year-old’s sudden shoulder injury. While Shelton tried to power through the pain during the 4th set against Adrian Mannarino, he was forced to retire before the start of the 5th round. Shelton was visibly upset and in tears, a sight that broke most tennis fans’ hearts. However, there’s one man who understands this pain on a personal level – Andy Roddick. And he had some big advice for the young star.

Andy Roddick Wants Ben Shelton to Remain Careful

There has always been a small section of fans who prefer players to power through injuries. Call it an old-school thing or something else, but for a few, it’s a way for players to show their “hearts.” However, Roddick defers in this instance. The former world No.1 believes what Ben Shelton did was correct, especially because there was no chance he’d win the US Open with a bad shoulder.

“If Ben is compromised and his serve doesn’t move, right? When your change-up just becomes a straight pitch, which is what happens when you are physically compromised. He cannot win this tournament,” said Roddick on his podcast. However, after this came a very strong piece of advice for Shelton. Roddick warned the young star not to rush his recovery.

“Do not, if you’re Ben Shelton, after all the progress you’ve made this year, do not take a three-week injury and turn it into a six-month injury,” warned Roddick. Rushing their recovery has never ended well for sportsmen, and Roddick knows all too well about it. As for Shelton, the star sent a small message to his fans on his social media account after the US Open.

Ben Shelton was forced to retire for the first time in 178 career matches.

He will be back, no doubt about that 👊 pic.twitter.com/dlm5Kajlbb
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 29, 2025

Shelton Vows to Be Back Soon In His Social Media Post

This was not just a heartbreaking moment for Ben Shelton; it was also the first time in his career that he was forced to retire. As a result, Shelton was filled with tears at the immediate aftermath of this incident. However, after the storm calmed, the 22-year-old seemed back to his highly motivated self. Shelton made a post on Instagram where he said, “NYC was a movie as always. Just a bad ending… I’ll be back.”

Ben Shelton after being forced to retire from his match against Mannarino at U.S. Open:

“It hurts. But you won’t hear me pouting over here about how bad things are. I have a lot of blessings. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/KtgzIu34S8
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 29, 2025

Certainly, that’s what every fan expects. One still waits for the complete details and timeline of his injury. However, apart from Shelton, his girlfriend and soccer star, Trinity Rodman, also shared a heartfelt message on social media. In the case of Rodman, the message was directly meant for Shelton. “You are strength and dedication. I love you and you will be back stronger (heart emojis).”

So as it stands, the sporting world has all come in support of Shelton. But the mystery around his shoulder injury remains. How long will Shelton be out of action? This story will continue.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Andy Roddick

ATP

Ben Shelton

Tennis

US Open 2025

Sanskar Dubey

A passionate sports fan since childhood, it was always my dream to cover the peak of human potential. Baseball, Tennis, and Football (or Soccer) have been closest to my heart. From Rafael Nadal’s never-say-die attitude to Roger Federer’s beautiful backhand, I’ve seen it all. Prior to the Playoffs, I’ve worked in EssentiallySports and Pro Football and Sports Network.