Shelton Mirrors Rodman’s Joy in Dallas Surge
Ben Shelton’s semifinal win at the Nexo Dallas Open turns into a Valentine’s celebration, as girlfriend Trinity Rodman’s dance from the stands ignites his path to the final against Taylor Fritz.
Ben Shelton‘s lefty serve boomed under the Dallas lights, carrying him through a semifinal that felt like a turning point in a season of close calls. The indoor hardcourts of the Nexo Dallas Open rewarded his heavy topspin, each crosscourt forehand landing with the precision of a player finding his groove. As the second seed, he had already navigated the quarters, but the presence of girlfriend Trinity Rodman in the stands added a layer of lightness to the grind.
“I think there’s a better chance of a lot of things in life,” Shelton said. “I think that’s one thing that would never happen, so that’s not something I would even ask.”
Earlier in the week, after advancing to the quarterfinals, Shelton fielded questions about Rodman’s viral celebration with U.S. Women’s National Team coach Emma Hayes—a spontaneous dance after a goal that captured soccer’s exuberance. Reporters wondered if he might persuade his father and coach, Bryan Shelton, to join in such antics. His deflection kept the focus on the court, where every point against tough draws demanded full commitment.
Dancing lifts semifinal tension
In the semifinal against defending champion Denis Shapovalov, Shelton faced a barrage of flat inside-out forehands that skidded low on the grippy surface. He countered with deep returns and a 1–2 pattern from the baseline, slicing his second serve wide to set up down-the-line backhands that pinned his opponent. Rodman, arriving just for the occasion, broke into her celebratory dance from the stands after Shelton sealed the straight-sets victory, her movements a burst of energy amid the crowd’s rising hum.
Shelton caught sight of it, his post-match smile breaking through the sweat, and he mirrored the shimmy right there on court. The moment cut through the ATP 500 event’s intensity, where fatigue from a packed schedule often muted celebrations. Her support turned the win into something personal, easing the psychological weight of chasing consistency on these fast courts.
Valentine’s streak fuels final push
This was the second tournament where Rodman had appeared on semifinal day, and Shelton stood 2–0 in those matches—a pattern that felt like quiet luck on February 15, 2026. “This is the second tournament that my girlfriend has shown up on the semi-finals day,” he said. “I’m 2-0 in semis when she shows up for that, so happy Valentine’s Day!”
POV: Your Valentine’s date just made the @NexoDallasOpen final pic.twitter.com/PomO0KEHEX
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 15, 2026
Now, the final awaits against Taylor Fritz on Sunday, their head-to-head even at one win apiece from prior ATP clashes marked by service holds and tiebreak drama. Fritz’s aggressive returns and slice backhands will test Shelton’s movement, but the indoor conditions favor his topspin variety if he varies underspin on seconds to disrupt rhythm. With Rodman’s energy lingering, a title could spark another dance, blending off-court joy with on-court triumph in a season still unfolding.
