Ben Shelton, the No. 6 seed and American tennis star, was forced to retire from his third-round match at the US Open 2025 on August 29, 2025, against Adrian Mannarino due to a left shoulder injury, leaving the court in tears with a towel over his head. The match, tied at 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, ended abruptly when Shelton, after battling through pain, heeded his father and coach Bryan Shelton’s advice to stop, avoiding further damage. Mannarino, the 37-year-old Frenchman ranked No. 77, advanced to the fourth round but expressed sympathy, stating, “When he started to have pain, he was leading in the match. Honestly, he probably would have won that match” (ESPN,). His gracious comments highlighted the bittersweet nature of his first career win over a top-10 player in a Grand Slam. Here’s a detailed look at the match, Mannarino’s response, and how fans in the UK, USA, Australia, and Nigeria can follow the US Open, as of 1:55 AM WAT, Saturday, August 30, 2025.
The Match: Shelton’s Injury and Emotional Exit
Shelton, a 2023 US Open semifinalist, started strongly against Mannarino at Louis Armstrong Stadium, taking the first set 6-3 with a 140 mph ace—among the tournament’s fastest (ESPN,). After dropping the second set, he won the third 6-4 with a dramatic diving play, but the effort may have triggered his shoulder injury, as he landed heavily on his left arm (The Athletic,). Early in the fourth set, Shelton grimaced after a forehand, telling his box, “I did something to my shoulder. I don’t know what it is” (ATP Tour,). He took a medical timeout mid-game, an unusual move allowed by the umpire due to the severity of the pain, which he later described as “the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life” (ATP Tour,).
Despite treatment, including cream applied to his shoulder, Shelton adapted by rushing the net for 13 serve-and-volley points in the fourth set (compared to three in the first three sets), attempting to shorten rallies (ESPN,). He saved four set points but lost the set 6-4 when Mannarino held serve. During a changeover, as Mannarino took a bathroom break, Bryan Shelton signaled his son to retire, a decision Ben followed, exiting to a standing ovation with tears in his eyes (The Athletic,). The scoreline read 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, ret. Mannarino (US Open,).
Mannarino’s Classy Response
In his on-court interview, Mannarino expressed empathy for Shelton, acknowledging his dominance before the injury: “When he started to have pain, he was leading in the match. Honestly, he probably would have won that match. 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” (ESPN,). He added, “I was having good fun on the court. Really long rallies. I was losing some and winning some. But it was a pretty cool match to play. Ben is playing really well. He kicked my ass at the beginning of the summer” (@TheTennisLetter,).
Mannarino’s remarks referenced Shelton’s 6-1, 6-2 rout in Toronto, where Shelton won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title (The Mirror US,). The Frenchman, who secured his first victory in 23 career matches against top-10 players in Grand Slams, humorously noted winning “from the toilet,” as he was off-court when Shelton retired (Yahoo Sports,). His comments earned praise on X, with @TennisFanatic calling him “a class act for giving Ben his due.”
Context: Shelton’s Season and Injury Impact
Shelton, 22, was a heavy favorite entering the match, boasting a 14-2 hard-court record in the 2025 summer, including the Toronto title (ESPN,). His powerful left-handed serve and athleticism made him a contender to end the U.S.’s 22-year men’s Grand Slam drought since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open win (SI.com,). The injury, likely caused by his third-set dive, halted a potential quarterfinal clash with Carlos Alcaraz, opening the draw for the No. 2 seed (The Athletic,). Shelton, speaking post-match, remained philosophical: “A small setback like this, yeah, it hurts. I was playing really well, I was in form, a lot of confidence. But you won’t hear me pouting about how bad things are with the summer that I’ve had” (@TheTennisLetter,).
This was Shelton’s first career retirement in 178 professional matches, underscoring the severity of the injury (ESPN,). He awaits further medical evaluation, with no clear diagnosis yet, stating, “The shoulder is obviously complex. It’s tough to know” (The Athletic,). The loss, coupled with Frances Tiafoe’s defeat to Jan-Lennard Struff, left Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul as the last American men standing (The Guardian,).
How to Follow the US Open 2025
Mannarino advances to face Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round on August 31, 2025. Fans can track the tournament:
- United Kingdom:
- Live Streaming: Amazon Prime Video or Sky Sports.
- TV Broadcast: Sky Sports Tennis (11:00 AM BST for day sessions).
- Social Media: Follow @SkySportsTennis, @usopen, or @TheTennisLetter on X.
- Session Times: Day sessions at 11:00 AM BST (12:00 PM WAT), night sessions at 7:00 PM BST (8:00 PM WAT).
- United States:
- Live Streaming: ESPN+ or Peacock.
- TV Broadcast: ESPN or ESPN2 (11:00 AM ET, 7:00 PM ET).
- Social Media: Follow @ESPNTennis or @usopen on X.
- Australia:
- Live Streaming: Stan Sport or 9Now.
- TV Broadcast: Nine Network (1:00 AM AEST for 11:00 AM ET).
- VPN Option: Norton VPN for Stan Sport abroad.
- Nigeria (WAT):
- Live Streaming: SuperSport via DStv Stream or ESPN Africa; check atptour.com.
- Session Times: Day sessions at 4:00 PM WAT, night sessions at 12:00 AM WAT.
- VPN Option: Norton VPN for ESPN+ or Sky Sports via US/UK servers.
Looking Ahead
Mannarino’s heartfelt words and Shelton’s emotional exit have resonated with fans, with X posts like “Heartbreaking for Ben, but props to Adrian for his respect” (@TennisLover) capturing the sentiment. Shelton’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, but his optimism suggests a strong return. Mannarino, now in his first US Open fourth round, faces Lehecka for a chance at the quarterfinals. For updates, visit atptour.com, espn.com, or nytimes.com, and follow @usopen or @TheTennisLetter on X. As Shelton heals and Mannarino advances, this match remains a poignant moment in the 2025 US Open.
