American tennis star Ben Shelton, currently ranked World No. 15, has quashed speculation about a potential double date with close friend and fellow tennis prodigy Coco Gauff, emphasizing his preference for privacy in his personal life. In an April 2025 interview with *Us Weekly*, while discussing his partnership with Thorne’s Sports Performance campaign, Shelton, 22, addressed the idea of a double date with Gauff, 21, and her rumored boyfriend, Jalen Sera, saying, “Not the biggest double date guy, to be honest. More of a normal date guy.” He cited logistical challenges, noting, “Definitely have a lot of friends who are in long-term relationships, but for it to match up where we’re all in the same place at the same time is unlikely.”[]
Shelton’s comments come after he went public with his relationship with U.S. women’s national soccer team star Trinity Rodman, 22, in March 2025, via an Instagram post that sparked widespread attention. The “hard launch,” celebrated by Gauff with a comment reading “hard launchhhh!!” and Frances Tiafoe’s “We gram now,” surprised Shelton with its viral impact. “I was sure some people would talk about it, but I didn’t think it would be a break the Internet type of thing,” he admitted. His openness about his romance followed months of speculation, including rumors linking him romantically with Gauff after they were spotted together at an escape room during the 2025 Australian Open. Shelton clarified that fellow player Chris Eubanks was also present but cropped out of photos, fueling false dating narratives.[](https://www.the-express.com/sport/tennis/169238/ben-shelton-coco-gauff-trinity-rodman-dating)[](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/ben-shelton-on-trinity-rodman-relationship-coco-gauff-double-dates/)
Shelton and Gauff, who share a close friendship rooted in their Atlanta connections and mutual rise as U.S. tennis stars, have frequently faced dating rumors. They made history at the 2023 US Open as the first American players under 21 to reach the semifinals of the same Grand Slam, with Gauff winning her first major title. Their camaraderie was evident at the 2024 US Open mixed doubles, where a viral moment saw Shelton leave Gauff hanging for a high-five, prompting her to laugh it off. Despite their bond, Shelton’s focus remains on “normal dates” with Rodman, whose demanding soccer schedule with the Washington Spirit and USWNT mirrors his own. “You gotta make sacrifices sometimes,” he said, highlighting the need for “two selfless people” to make their relationship work.
Gauff, rumored to be dating musician and aspiring actor Jalen Sera since 2023, has kept her relationship private but confirmed her partner is not a tennis player, further dispelling Shelton rumors. As both prepare for Wimbledon 2025, Shelton’s Munich Open semifinal and Gauff’s French Open title defense underscore their focus on the court, leaving double dates off the table.
