Ben Shelton’s US Open Run Comes to an End as Injury Concerns Force Shocking Decision

The US Open is heating up as players battle for a spot in the round of 16! Ben Shelton has been on fire so far, currently facing off against the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. The sixth seed has breezed past his first two opponents with ease, winning both matches in straight sets and dropping just 19 games. After a semifinal run in 2023, Shelton looks hungry for another deep tournament run. However, things took a turn when an injury took over.

Shelton started strong, winning the first set 6-3, but Mannarino took the second 6-3. Shelton dominated the third but hurt his left shoulder early in the fourth, calling for a medical timeout. Edge AI reported, “Medical timeout during play for Ben Shelton. Issue with left shoulder area.” With his powerful serve at risk, the injury is a big concern.

The match picked up into its fourth set; however, Shelton was unable to seal a win as the Frenchman took it away with a 6-4 lead. Moments later, as hard as Ben tried, the American was unable to pull through for the fifth set, calling it off during the changeover and announcing his retirement from the US Open.

What could have gone wrong? The American was playing comfortably for the past two matches, especially after sealing a big win early on at the Canadian Open. Marking his first-ever Masters title, the 22-year-old was running on confidence and momentum. He hadn’t dropped a set until his clash with Adrian.

“I did something to my shoulder. I don’t know what it is,” Shelton could be heard saying to his coach’s box. Hopefully, it isn’t anything some time couldn’t fix before the Asian swing comes next. But as far as this tournament goes, it only adds a notch in his opponent’s head-to-head with him, even if Mannarino believed that Shelton was sure to prevail.

Ben Shelton’s opponent reveals honest thoughts after his win

Once the American left the court to cheers from his home crowd, the Frenchman got candid about how he thought things would go. “When he started to have pain, he was leading in the match,” said Mannarino, who, at 35, became the oldest man ever to break into the ATP Top 20 when he hit No. 17 in 2024. His honesty added a human touch to a tough win.

Mannarino now leads Shelton 3-1 in their four meetings, their rivalry unfolding quickly. They first met in Miami 2023, with the young Shelton biting hard but falling in three sets. Then came an explosive five-set battle at the 2024 Australian Open, where Shelton showed he was closing the gap. The evidence of this shift was clear at the Canadian Open this year, when Shelton beat Mannarino in straight sets.

Despite Shelton’s impressive run at Grand Slams this season, Mannarino admitted, “Honestly, he probably would’ve won that match. That’s unfortunate for him, and lucky for me. I don’t really know what to say right now. I’m happy to be through, but I wish him the best, of course.” It’s a classy nod from the veteran after a hard-fought battle.

Now, Mannarino is set to face Jiri Lehecka in the round of 16, while Shelton, who was a clear favorite after semifinal appearances at the Australian Open, fourth round at Roland Garros, and a Wimbledon quarterfinal this year, will take time to recover.

The big question: will he return stronger and hungrier? Share your thoughts below, and stay tuned to our Live Blog for all the latest US Open action!