Ben Shelton’s quest to return to the U.S. Open semifinals for the second time in three years ended with an apparent left shoulder injury and an emotional exit at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Shelton retired following the fourth set of his match against unseeded Adrian Mannarino on Friday, with the injury prompting a visit from the trainer earlier in the match before ultimately ending the No. 6 seed’s stint in Queens before a decisive fifth set.
He won the first set, 6-3, but proceeded to drop two of the next three, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6.
Following the fourth set, Shelton embraced Mannarino near the net and walked off the court to a loud ovation with a towel draped over his head, pausing to wave to the crowd at different points before he reached the tunnel.
Shelton’s injury seemingly occurred at set point in the second set, when, in the middle of a lengthy rally, he dove toward the left corner, tumbled onto the court and managed to send a shot into the corner that Mannarino proceeded to hit into the net.
“When he started having pain, he was leading in the match,” Mannarino said on the court following the match, according to The Tennis Letter.” He probably would’ve won. It’s unfortunate for him and very lucky for me. Don’t really know what to say right now. I suppose I’m happy to get through, but I wish him the best of course.”
Shelton, who made the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, entered the U.S. Open still looking for his first career Grand Slam title.