Rodman goes from soccer game to US Open final to watch Shelton

Rodman goes from soccer game to US Open final to watch Shelton. Trinity Rodman made it from the soccer pitch to the tennis court in time to watch boyfriend Ben Shelton in the US Open final.

What happened

There was an errorAlexander Zverev wins the second Grand Slam of his career by beating Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-6 (7-6), 5-7, 6-2 in the final of the US Open. There was an errorAlexander Zverev says it was an "amazing feeling" to lift the US Open trophy after defeating Ben Shelton in the final. "Zverev caps transformational year with US Open triumphPublished1 day agoAll About US Open: Zverev claims second Grand Slam title'He was in a trance-like state'Figure caption, Alexander Zverev reflects on his US Open win and praises his final opponent Ben SheltonWorld number two Zverev has enjoyed his best year on the Tour, reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the final at Wimbledon alongside his French Open and US Open successes.

Shelton broke at the end of the third set to extend the match but the American made little impact in return games from then on, winning only four of 20 receiving points in set fourVictory means he will now have the world number one ranking in his sights – he trails Sinner by 1,810 points with two Masters 1000 events and the season-ending ATP Tour finals to come. Zverev wins US Open to earn second Grand Slam victoryThis content is not available in your location.

'It feels amazing' – Zverev reflects on US Open winThis content is not available in your location. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Alexander Zverev is the second German man to win the US Open in the Open era after Boris BeckerByPaul Battison, BBC Sport journalist and Phil Cartwright, BBC Sport journalistPublished14 September 2026As he stepped up to the baseline, Alexander Zverev could be forgiven for letting his mind slip back to the last time he served for the US Open title.

The wider picture

This time, instead of his own nerves, it was American Ben Shelton and the majority of the 24,000-strong crowd that stood in Zverev's way. But this was a different Zverev: a Grand Slam champion now, having won the French Open in June. "Zverev's parents were not there for his previous final at Flushing Meadows, but his father and coach Alexander senior was on the sidelines this time. He was two points from defeat in the first round, but rallied, played his way into form and did not drop a set from the third round until the final.

Faced with a partisan crowd against Shelton, Zverev did not buckle. "Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Alexander Zverev is now a two-time Grand Slam championHis serve – one of the best on the ATP Tour – was key against Shelton. SubsectionTennisPublished21 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated topicsTennisFollow Tennisclose panelYou are now following TennisUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage. Six years ago, the German top seed threw away a two-set lead in a devastating loss to Dominic Thiem, having served for the match in the fifth set.

What has been reported

Such was his focus that he did not initially realise he had sealed a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory. After firing down another unstoppable serve to win the match, Zverev returned to the baseline ready to start the next point – only to be told by his team the match was over. "It's funny – tennis teachers always tell you to just play the next point and forget about the score. "At that moment I forgot about the score and it helped me.

"Figure caption, Zverev storms to second career Grand Slam victoryAs the realisation sunk in, the 29-year-old broke into a broad and slightly surprised smile before raising his arms above his head. It was a direct contrast to his defeat by Thiem in 2020, where a tearful Zverev said during the trophy presentation: "I wish one day I can bring the trophy home. "We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now we've won two in three months," said Zverev.

"2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.

What happens next

As well as paying tribute to his father, Zverev also thanked his mother for her support following his type 1 diabetes diagnosis as a child. "When doctors tell you that life and sports will be very limited for that child, it takes a very strong mother to say 'my son will be whatever he wants to be'," Zverev said. "My mother is the most important and strongest person I know. He has been aided by injuries to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who swept the majors in the past two seasons, but a strengthened mentality and dedication to fitness has also helped.

"There is no-one as fit as Zverev, he is right up there," former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "You can argue about Alcaraz and Sinner, and Novak [Djokovic] and Rafa [Nadal] when they were in their prime physically, but Zverev is right up there as one of the best athletes to play the sport. "Zverev was taken to five sets in his first two matches, with both finishing in the early hours of the New York morning.

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across bbc.co.uk. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.