Ben Shelton just blasted his way into his first-ever US Open final, and guess who was absolutely losing it in the stands? None other than Trinity Rodman herself! She was right there on Friday, Sept. 11, watching Shelton defeat Frances Tiafoe in a wild four-set battle, ending 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. Rodman immediately jumped on her Instagram Story, reposting Shelton from the U.S. Open’s official account with a simple, powerful message: “Onto the next.” You just know she’s hyped for him.
Rodman’s Viral Cheers & Shelton’s Dedication
This wasn’t just a one-off thing, either. Rodman has been a constant presence at Shelton’s matches throughout the tournament. Remember back on Sept. 2 during the second round? She went absolutely viral for cheering him on, flashing a huge smile and even doing a little dance as he locked down his spot in the third round. It’s clear she’s invested, and her energy has been infectious. After his semifinal win, Shelton got real about the emotions swirling. He dedicated the victory to his late grandmother, saying, “My dad lost his mom earlier this year, and she’s the reason he was able to play tennis. Without her, there’s no Ben Shelton standing here today. So, this one is for her.” What a moment.
History in the Making for Shelton
This run isn’t just a great story, it’s straight-up history. With this win, Ben Shelton becomes the first Black American man to reach the championship match at the U.S. Open since the legendary Arthur Ashe back in 1972. Think about that for a second. That’s a huge deal. He knows the stakes, too. Shelton urged fans to come back for the final, saying, “I’m gonna need you guys on Sunday to bring the energy. I’m going for it here, I’m going to leave it all on the court. I hope you guys come and back me, let’s do it for the USA!” He’s set to face Alexander Zverev on Sunday, Sept. 13, in what’s going to be an absolutely epic US Open final. You know Trinity will be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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