Ben Shelton injury update: Tennis star forced to retire from US Open match

Ben Shelton was forced to retire from his U.S. Open match against Adrian Mannarino on Friday. He is dealing with a shoulder injury, which led to the decision.

Shelton and Mannarino were tied at two sets apiece when the injury occurred. He fell to the ground after clinching the third set on set point after feeling a sharp pain in his left shoulder. After three points in the next game, Shelton called a medical timeout.

As he went to his box, Shelton said he felt the “worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life,” according to ATP Tour. Mannarino will now advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“When he started to have pain, he was leading in the match,” Mannarino said during an on-court interview, via ATP Tour. “Honestly, he probably would’ve won that match. That’s unfortunate for him, and lucky for me. I don’t really know what to say right now. I’m happy to be through but I wish him the best, of course.”

Shelton advanced to the third round at the 2025 U.S. Open after taking down Ignacio Buse and Pablo Carreño, winning each match in straight sets. Friday’s match against Mannarino was the first time he trailed so far this tournament.

Shelton, a former Florida star, is ATP’s No. 6-ranked player this year. He has a 35-17 win-loss record and won the National Bank Open earlier this month in Toronto. During his last major appearance at Wimbledon, he fell to Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals.

Following Friday’s match, Mannarino will now get ready to take on Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round of the U.S. Open. Lehecka took down Raphael Collingnon in straight sets – 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Mannarino acknowledged how well Ben Shelton had been playing at the time of his injury considering the two previously met this summer.

“I was having good fun on the court, there were some really long rallies,” Mannarino said. “I was losing some, winning some, but I think it was a really cool match to play. Ben is playing really well, he kicked my ass at the beginning of the summer, but it was a great match. I was enjoying it, even if I was losing, it was a pretty cool match.”