Ben Shelton was in tears leaving the field on Friday at the US Open. Unfortunately for player 6 of the world and the second American best classified behind Taylor Fritz, He had no choice but to retire before the fifth set Against Adrian Mannarino – an unexpected withdrawal after an shoulder injury.
For the first time in 178 professional career games, Shelton had to stop the game.
“Usually I will play through anything and find a way,” said Shelton after the match. “And whether it is a disease or an injury, if I can stay there, I can stay there. I never felt anything like that before, so it was a little difficult, I suppose that uncertainty.”
Known for his powerful service, the 22 -year -old left -handed started to cut most of his offensive shots in the fourth set after the injury and was visibly suffering each time he was trying to come on his forehand.
Shelton does not know when he suffered the shoulder injury during the match with Mannarino, and his physiotherapist could not relieve the pain. Shelton does not yet know if the disease will be long term or something that he can overcome quickly.
Shelton landed strongly on his left arm after stretching a bullet in the area to win the third set on a wild return before grimacing a few minutes from the fourth set. TV Audio caught Shelton by saying to the box of his coach: “I did something to my shoulder. I don’t know what it is.”
Shelton’s best finish at the US Open was an appearance in the semi-finals in 2023.
“I was just trying to adapt and understand everything I can to continue to compete,” said Shelton. “Even if I suffered, I was just in this competitive state of mind to try to find a means and to pass it, so it was not really a thought in my mind.”
Shelton was playing the best tennis of his career this summer after winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto and on the hetero sets at the US Open during the first two laps against Ignacio Buse and Pablo Carreno Busta. However, something changed in Shelton’s shoulder after leading two sets against a against Mannarino, who won the fourth set 6-4 before the American decision to retire.
“I have a lot to be grateful. I was quite lucky with my life; blessings, talents, many things that God gave me,” said Shelton. “A small setback like this, yes, it hurts. I played very well, I was in good shape, a lot of confidence. Just so much to be satisfied with the way I played, to move on the field, of competition.
“You do not hear me here to mud on the gravity of things with the summer that I had,” he continued, “the things I could do in this sport in a short time and the people I have around me. As I said, a lot of blessings.”
In the front for Shelton
With his unknown injury status, Shelton will probably be the diet with his coach and his medical staff to determine the best driving element of his shoulder situation. The United States Open is the last major of the year, but washing Cup begins in San Francisco in two weeks, the Japanese Open on September 22 and the Shanghai Masters next month.
Shelton played in these three tournaments last year, reaching the third round of Japanese open and masters of Shanghai with defeats against Arthur son and Jannik Sinner.
