Why Trinity Rodman is set to miss Ben Shelton’s US Open final vs Alexander Zverev

Ben Shelton has been handed a potential blow ahead of his US Open final against Alexander Zverev, with girlfriend Trinity Rodman unlikely to be in the stands because of a scheduling clash.

The American tennis star booked his place in his first Grand Slam final by beating Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Shelton now faces Zverev on Sunday with a chance to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003. However, he will have to overcome a difficult record against the German.

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Rodman is scheduled to play for Washington Spirit against Boston Legacy FC in an NWSL away game on Sunday, with kick-off at 1pm local time.

Shelton’s US Open final is scheduled to begin in New York at 2pm, meaning Rodman is unlikely to make it unless she skips her club commitment.

The timing is unfortunate given Rodman’s role during Shelton’s excellent 2026 season. He has won four ATP titles this year in Dallas, Munich, Stuttgart and Montreal, and previously thanked Rodman for travelling to tournaments to support him.

Shelton’s task against Zverev is already a major one. He has lost all five of their previous meetings, including each of their last four encounters in straight sets.

The American is also 0-3 against Zverev on hard courts, making Sunday’s contest particularly challenging.

There is at least some reason for Shelton to believe the record can be overturned. He was also 0-3 against Carlos Alcaraz before their quarter-final, only for Shelton to produce the biggest win of his career by beating the defending champion.

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Shelton’s victory over Tiafoe was another impressive display, with 20 aces helping him recover after losing the opening set. He will enter the final with plenty of confidence after reaching the championship match without losing a set to Tiafoe across their previous encounters at the US Open.

The 23-year-old has also taken on added significance during this run. He is the first Black American man to reach a US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, while a victory would end America’s long wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion.

Shelton has already called on the New York crowd to bring the energy on Sunday. With Rodman potentially absent, the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd will be even more important as he looks to finally beat Zverev and claim the biggest title of his career.