Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Alexander Zverev may have walked away with the US Open trophy, but it was his words for Ben Shelton’s girlfriend Trinity Rodman that won hearts after the German defeated the American in the final on Sunday. Rodman was in tears during Shelton’s speech after losing the final.
Zverev overcame Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to claim his first US Open title and second Grand Slam crown. But amid the celebrations, the 29-year-old made sure to acknowledge Rodman, who had travelled from Washington DC to New York to support Shelton.
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“Trinity, I thought you had a game today, no? Well done to you as well. You’re the lucky charm. Not today, but usually,” Zverev said during his on-court speech.
Rodman, a star forward for the Washington Spirit, had been scheduled to play against Boston Legacy FC in Washington on Sunday, with the NWSL fixture overlapping with Shelton’s US Open final. Despite the scheduling clash, she made the trip to New York after her game to be there for Shelton.
SHELTON’S BREAKTHROUGH FINAL ENDS WITH FIGHTING FINAL
Shelton’s run to the final had been one of the biggest stories of the tournament. The 23-year-old became the first Black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972 and put together a series of impressive performances on his way to the championship match.
He stunned second seed Carlos Alcaraz in a quarter-final that finished at 3:33 a.m. before overcoming Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the semi-final. Against Tiafoe, Shelton struck 20 aces and 47 winners, showing the powerful serving and aggressive tennis that had carried him through the tournament.
In the final, Shelton initially struggled to match Zverev’s consistency but refused to go quietly. After losing the opening two sets, he produced his best tennis of the night to take the third 7-5 and briefly put pressure on the German.
Zverev, however, regained control in the fourth set and sealed the championship 6-2. The victory gave him his second Grand Slam title of the year after his French Open triumph.
For Shelton, the defeat ended his bid to become the first American man since Andy Roddick in 2003 to win a Grand Slam singles title. But his breakthrough week in New York offered a glimpse of a player capable of challenging for the biggest prizes in tennis.
And after a heartbreaking night for Shelton, Zverev’s light-hearted words to Rodman provided a touching moment between two athletes who had shared the spotlight throughout the tournament.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
