Tennis fans were captivated as Ben Shelton mounted a dramatic comeback against Flavio Cobolli at the Canadian Open, using sheer determination to turn the match around. This victory, achieved on Sunday night at the National Bank Open in Canada, marked Shelton’s 100th tour-level win, a significant milestone in his burgeoning career. His girlfriend, American soccer star Trinity Rodman, experienced the tension firsthand, her excitement unmistakable as she cheered him on from home.
Trailing 3-5 in the final set and without a break point since early on, Shelton managed to reverse the pressure, ultimately securing a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1) triumph over Cobolli. This victory not only underscored his grit but also propelled him into the quarterfinals of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the fourth time.
This accomplishment brings Shelton’s career tour-level record to an impressive 100 wins against 69 losses. He joins the elite group of players born after 2000 to reach this mark, and stands as the ninth active American with such a record.
Among the many spectators was Shelton’s partner, Trinity Rodman, who shared a video on Instagram showing her intense focus and emotional reactions during the match. Her enthusiasm crescendoed as Shelton clinched the winning point, a moment she later captioned as, “Clutch day I guess.”
Adding to the family celebrations, Shelton’s sister Emma posted about the victory on her social media, expressing her joy with a simple, spirited caption: “Cashh.”
Looking ahead, Shelton is set to meet Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals, with the prospect of advancing to his first-ever Masters 1000 semifinal and potentially contending for the championship title.
Ben Shelton Reflects on the Intensity of His Battle with Cobolli
Following the intense match in Canada, Shelton candidly discussed the challenges he faced during the encounter, describing it as one of his toughest matches yet. The 22-year-old American recognized the difficulty of overcoming Cobolli’s persistent play, especially after being down a break in the decisive set.
“Really difficult match. I was down and out, being a break down in the third, the way that he was playing. I gave myself a second chance and I did a good job with it, kind of running from there. A really difficult opponent for me, someone who’s gotten me in three sets after I’ve won the first set twice,”
he said.
Now, Shelton prepares for his first career meeting against Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals. This upcoming match will be crucial in determining whether Shelton can continue his momentum and claim a significant breakthrough in one of tennis’s most prestigious tournaments.