Ben Shelton and Trinity Rodman Navigate Demanding Athletic Careers and Relationship

Tennis player Ben Shelton has opened up about the difficulties of balancing his relationship with soccer player Trinity Rodman with their respective demanding athletic careers.

Shelton, who recently reached the final of the U.S. Open, described their current phase as "crunch time" and the "most grueling" period for their relationship. He acknowledged that while fans see Rodman's support, the reality of their schedules often leaves them exhausted, making it hard to find quality time together.

"It is really difficult," Shelton told US Weekly. "I think what a lot of people don't see is when we actually do have time or a couple of days off, we're so exhausted that it's tough to do anything. It is tough to make time."

He added that he can sometimes be a "zombie" after tournaments, but having an elite athlete like Rodman to lean on makes a significant difference. Both athletes are described as being intensely focused on their sports, aiming to reach their full potential before their primes.

Rodman, a forward for the U.S. Women's National Team and the Washington Spirit, was a consistent presence in the stands during Shelton's U.S. Open run. She notably made a quick trip from her own soccer match on September 13 to attend the final at Flushing Meadows, where Shelton was ultimately defeated by Alexander Zverev.

Despite the logistical challenges, Rodman demonstrated her commitment by attending Shelton's quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz, which concluded in the early hours of the morning. She then drove five hours to make it to her team's training session later that day.

Rodman, daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, and Shelton, who was the No. 8 seed at the U.S. Open, have been publicly dating since early 2025. Shelton highlighted Rodman's effort to support him, stating she flew back and forth multiple times during the tournament and that sharing those moments with her and his family was "so cool."