Ben Shelton will not chase a Major title at home in New York. The 6th seed ended his US Open campaign in tears following a retirement in the third round against Adrian Mannarino.
The home player suffered a left shoulder injury and retired after losing the fourth set at Louis Armstrong Stadium, propelling fellow left-hander into his first R16 appearance at the US Open at 37.
Shelton retired for the first time in a career, receiving a medical timeout at the beginning of the fourth set and having nothing left in the tank for the decider despite a valiant effort.
The American provided his trademark fight but made an ultimate decision after running out of options. Ben did not feel issues when the match started, although he could not confirm when did they start.
He pushed through discomfort as long as he could, but the injury grew too severe to allow him to contest a deciding set. As the young gun described to his father, it was the biggest pain he ever felt.
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Mannarino, one of the most unorthodox players on the Tour, presented a difficult challenge even before the injury struck. With his unique style, sharp returning and ability to absorb pace, the veteran made life complicated for the home star.
Shelton left the court in tears, visibly disappointed by the circumstances of his undesired exit. Ben faces a period of uncertainty, waiting to assess the extent of his injury before planning his next steps.
"I felt a very sharp pain. I'm not sure what happened. I had never retired in a match before, as I'm not that type of player. I can not tell you when the pain started, but I believe I did not enter the match injured.
I always try to stay on the court and overcome injury or illness. However, this time it was much harder. Everything is uncertain now; I can not tell you anything else. Adrian is a great player.
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It's difficult to find answers against him sometimes, as he seems to have no weaknesses. He returns well and has a different style that sets him apart from the rest of the field.
All I could think about was adjusting and figuring out what I needed to do to keep competing. Despite the setback, I maintained that competitive mindset to try to find a way to continue and overcome the situation.
That was the only thought I had at the end of the fourth set," Ben Shelton said.
