Ben Shelton draws attention with reaction to girlfriend Trinity Rodman’s missed goal as he attends NWSL game days after US Open heartbreak

Ben Shelton attended his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman’s, NWSL game between the Washington Spirit and the Chicago Stars. The American tennis star retired from the US Open third round against Adrian Mannarino, ending his Grand Slam bid once again.

Shelton and Rodman have been together since earlier this year, as their romance first came to public attention when they shared similar TikTok posts with hints of each other’s names. Although Rodman was sidelined from the soccer field due to a persistent back issue, she never missed cheering on Shelton from the courtside in the past months.

Ahead of the NWSL regular season, Trinity Rodman resumed playing in late July and joined the Washington Spirit squad in the recent game against the Chicago Stars. The World No. 6 attended the game in person, taking the sidelines in casual wear, while the cameras caught him reacting to Rodman’s near miss as she tried to score a goal on a header from a Washington free kick.

In another heartwarming moment, the couple exchanged playful passes after juggling the ball, highlighting their sweet connection.

Shelton had some success in the 2025 season, becoming the first American since Andy Roddick in 2005 to reach the last four at an ATP 1000 tournament. In the finals, he won his career-first ATP 1000 title after defeating Karen Khachanov. The 22-year-old often credits his family, especially his father and coach, Bryan Shelton, and girlfriend, Rodman, for their unwavering support.

Ben Shelton shares importance of build his relationship around sports

Ben Shelton and Trinity Rodman are both among the top players in their respective sports. While Shelton is known for having one of the fastest and most powerful serves on the ATP Tour, Rodman shines with her aggressive attacking style and agility, which has earned her several laurels, even a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In an interview with Vogue, Shelton shared how cool it was for the couple to watch each other strive to maintain their top spots. He also admitted that he connected with his girlfriend through their shared mental toughness and perseverance.

“I think it’s really cool for both of us to be able to see each other in our respective sports and, you know, witness what it takes and how difficult it is to stay at the top. The soccer life, the US women’s national team, it was all kind of new to me, and I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get to know it—and to know more about her life in it.

“If there’s shared advice, I think it’s definitely about the mental stuff—not skills, exactly. But the mental toughness and perseverance, and dealing with the difficulties that come up. I think that’s one and the same across all sports, actually,” he continued.

Ben Shelton made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the semifinals at the Australian Open this year.