United States Women's National Team soccer player Trinity Rodman appeared visibly surprised and seemingly disappointed when her boyfriend, Ben Shelton, did not acknowledge her during his victory speech at the US Open. Shelton had just secured a dramatic five-set win over Carlos Alcaraz in a match that concluded at 3:33 a.m. Eastern Time on September 9, 2026.
Rodman was in attendance at Arthur Ashe Stadium to support Shelton throughout the late-night quarterfinal match, which ran significantly past its scheduled start time. Despite the late hour, a dedicated crowd remained to watch the intense contest.
Following his hard-fought victory, Shelton addressed the crowd and acknowledged his support system. "For me it's always about the people in the crowd," Shelton stated. He thanked his coaches, his team, and the New York City fans who stayed until the early morning. He also made a special mention of his "best friend and sister," humorously suggesting they be given the next day off work.
As the camera panned to his player's box, Rodman was observed shrugging her shoulders and appearing to mouth "What about me?" as Shelton's friend laughed nearby. Although Rodman had been a consistent presence supporting Shelton throughout the tournament, even while her own National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season with the Washington Spirit is ongoing, she was not directly mentioned in his remarks.
Earlier in the match, Rodman had celebrated Shelton's win by mirroring his "phone down" gesture. Her dedication to attending his matches has been noted, with her team scheduled to play in Boston on the Sunday of the US Open men's singles final.
Carlos Alcaraz, despite his loss, expressed that he enjoyed the challenging match and was looking forward to returning home healthy to train and compete. He acknowledged the positive aspects of such demanding contests, stating, "In the end, you play for matches like this one."