Alexander Zverev Defeats Ben Shelton and Jokes About Trinity Rodman
The German tennis star Alexander Zverev humorously teased his competitor Ben Shelton’s girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, after securing his victory in the men’s singles at the U.S. Open.
“Trinity, didn’t you have a game today?” Zverev, 29, joked during his winners’ speech at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Sunday, September 13, after defeating Shelton, 23, with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2. Shelton and the professional soccer player Rodman, 24, have been dating since March 2025.
“Congratulations to you as well,” the Grand Slam champion added, addressing Trinity—whose father is NBA icon Dennis Rodman—as the audience burst into laughter. “You’re the lucky charm, so … not today, but usually.”
Trinity, who plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League, took Zverev’s playful jab in good spirits, laughing off his remarks before acknowledging that Sunday wasn’t her best day, according to footage shared by ESPN on their TikTok account.
Throughout the tournament, Trinity showed unwavering support for Shelton, often seen cheering him on during his semifinal match against Frances Tiafoe on Friday, September 11. Following the match, which saw Shelton reach his first U.S. Open final, she took to her Instagram Stories to express her excitement.
“Onto the next,” she captioned her post showcasing Shelton’s journey to the final on Sunday. Trinity also engaged on Shelton’s Instagram, commenting “Love you so much” on a carousel of photos he shared before the match, earning admiration from fans of the athletic couple.
Additionally, Trinity displayed her backing for Shelton through her U.S. Open outfits, sharing a glimpse of her “I Love My Boyfriend” cropped T-shirt via an Instagram carousel on September 4. The photos depicted her outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the final took place, dressed in a mini skirt, paired white heels, and a stylish clutch.
In April 2025, Shelton spoke with Us about his relationship with Trinity, acknowledging that he anticipated some chatter about their romance. “But I didn’t expect it to be a ‘break the Internet’ kind of event,” he remarked regarding their relationship’s debut on social media. “I’ve always believed that if I have a serious girlfriend, I’ll be posting about it on Instagram.”
He added, “Over the past six months, whenever I was seen with someone, people assumed we were dating. It was like, ‘No, we’re just friends.’ Or if I hung out with a girl and another guy in a group, they’d exclude the guy and suggest I was on a date. It all comes down to me posting about my girlfriend or others speculating about who she might be.”
