Andy Roddick says Ben Shelton made the right decision in retiring from his US Open match and he is also advising the young American to take his time to recover because playing through the injury and possibly worsening it would do far more damage than good.
After claiming the Toronto title and becoming the youngest American since Andy Roddick in 2004 to win a Masters title, Shelton had high hopes for the US Open. And truth be told, the American tennis community hoped that the world No. 6 could make a run and become the first American man since Roddick in 2003 to win a Grand Slam title.
Shelton was progressing nicely early in the tournament, registering back-to-back straight-set wins. But then against Adrian Mannarino, the American appeared to be physically struggling. And after Mannarino won the fourth of their third-round match to send it to a decider, the home star retired due to a shoulder injury.
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Roddick to Shelton: Do not take a three-week injury and turn it into a six-month injury
On his podcast, the 2003 US Open winner admitted that he was heartbroken for the 22-year-old American.
"If Ben doesn't have a serve, he can't make a run to win this tournament. The last thing I want to do is take a three-week injury and turn it into a six-month injury, right? And that is not a romantic way that fans like to deal with sports, right? We want everyone to be Willis Reed, right? We want everyone to be you play through the pain," the former world No. 1 said on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast.
Just before coming to the US Open, Shelton won the biggest title of his career and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 6 in the world.
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"It is hard to be sober in decision-making. Do not, if you're Ben, after all the progress you've made this year, do not take a three-week injury and turn it into a six-month in injury," Roddick added.
It remains to be seen for how long Shelton will be sidelined and if he will be ready to start his Asian swing in time.
