Ben Shelton’s journey to make a statement at the US Open came to a wrenching halt during his second semi-final appearance in three years. An alarming left shoulder injury forced him to withdraw at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
He retired during the fourth set of a third-round match against unseeded Adrian Mannarino on Friday. The injury became evident early in the match, prompting attention from trainers before he ultimately could not continue past the fourth set.
Despite a strong start, winning the first set 6-3, Shelton lost two of the next three sets, with scores of 3-6, 6-4, and 4-6.
After the fourth set, Shelton shared an emotional moment with Mannarino at the net, leaving the court amidst loud applause while a towel covered his head. He took a moment to acknowledge the crowd before exiting towards the tunnel.
His injury seemed to flare up during a pivotal moment in the second set. In the midst of a lengthy rally, Shelton managed to push the ball to the left corner, but the effort took its toll, ultimately leading to a netted return from Mannarino.
As signs of discomfort persisted throughout the fourth set, Shelton made the difficult decision to stop playing before the fifth set began.
“He was in the lead when he started to feel the pain,” Mannarino noted after the match. “I think it’s frustrating for him, and, well, I don’t want to say too much more about it.”
This year, Shelton had already made headlines by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. He came to the US Open, eager to chase his first Grand Slam title.
He had a smooth path in the earlier rounds, winning his first two matches without dropping a set. Ranked just behind fourth seed Taylor Fritz, Shelton represented a hopeful resurgence in American men’s tennis, with the last title won by Andy Roddick back in 2003.
