Alexander Zverev Beats Ben Shelton in US Open Final, Jokes About Trinity Rodman

Q: How did Trinity Rodman juggle a grueling pro soccer schedule to become the unexpected center of attention at the US Open final?

She did it by honoring both commitments: Rodman played the full 90 minutes for the Washington Spirit in Washington, then made the roughly 200-mile trip to New York in time to appear at the U.S. Open final and post-match ceremony for Ben Shelton. That turnaround was unusually tight. The Spirit kicked off just after 1 p.m. ET at Audi Field, while Shelton’s match against Alexander Zverev began at 2 p.m. ET at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Washington’s match ended before 3:30 p.m., and Shelton’s four-set loss finished shortly after 6 p.m., leaving Rodman only a narrow travel window. Reports indicate she arrived near the end, wearing a shirt with Shelton’s face on it and visibly emotional during the trophy presentation. Her appearance became part of the final’s storyline because it underscored the logistical feat and the public fascination with the couple. Zverev even joked during the ceremony that Rodman was Shelton’s “lucky charm,” prompting laughs from the crowd. The trip also fit a pattern. Rodman had already been shuttling between Spirit duties and the Open throughout Shelton’s run, including after his quarterfinal win over Carlos Alcaraz that ended at 3:33 a.m. She later showed she had made it back to training in Virginia that same morning. Shelton said her effort “meant everything,” adding that both athletes have made sacrifices and traveled extensively to support each other.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 15

Alexander Zverev capped his US Open final win over Ben Shelton by joking to Trinity Rodman, "I thought you have a game today," after spotting Shelton's girlfriend in the stands.
Rodman had played a soccer match in Washington earlier the same day and then traveled about 200 miles to New York to catch the end of the men's final.
The quip landed lightly—Rodman, Shelton and the crowd laughed—while Zverev added that she is usually Shelton's "lucky charm," just not on that day.
The moment became a post-match talking point beyond tennis, underscoring Rodman's crossover profile as a USWNT star and Shelton's high-visibility supporter during the tournament.