The third-round match at the 2025 US Open between American powerhouse Ben Shelton, the No. 6 seed, and French veteran Adrian Mannarino was destined to be a compelling battle, yet it concluded with a heartbreaking twist of fate. It was a stylistic clash: the 22-year-old’s aggressive, heavy-topspin game powered by a cannon serve against the 37-year-old’s crafty, unorthodox style that excels at absorbing pace. After three hours of grueling, intense tennis on Louis Armstrong Stadium, the score was perfectly split, two sets apiece, following a spectacular, sprawling point that sealed the third set for Shelton. That moment of youthful exuberance—where Shelton tumbled to the court, bounced up, and roared to the crowd—proved to be the fateful turning point. Shortly after, a severe left shoulder injury suddenly struck the American, forcing him to make the agonizing decision to retire, shattering his deep run and offering Mannarino a bittersweet, long-awaited passage into the fourth round.
The Collision of Two Contrasting Styles
The matchup between Shelton and Mannarino was a rare but fascinating aesthetic duel on the modern tour. Ben Shelton represents the new guard of tennis athleticism: a 6-foot-4 left-hander whose game is built on sheer, raw power, featuring one of the heaviest serves in the game. His goal is simple: dictate, explode, and finish points in under four shots. He entered the match on a high, having secured his first ATP Masters 1000 title earlier in the hard-court swing.
Conversely, Mannarino is a master of counter-punching and disruption. The veteran’s technique—with minimal backswing and a soft-tensioned racquet stringing—is designed not for offense, but for pacification. He expertly blunted Shelton’s 140+ mph serves and heavy groundstrokes, transforming them into flat, skidding balls that stayed low to the court. Mannarino’s genius lay in dragging the high-energy American into lengthy, uncomfortable baseline rallies, testing Shelton’s patience and forcing him to generate power from awkward positions. This tactical persistence allowed the Frenchman to neutralize the American’s primary weapons and ensured the match remained a gritty, back-and-forth contest, rather than the expected power display.
The Fateful Tumble and the ‘Worst Pain Ever’
The third set exemplified the high drama of Grand Slam tennis. After splitting the first two sets, the energy and tension peaked as both players held serve tightly. With Shelton leading 5-4 and pushing for the crucial break, the final point of the set became an unforgettable moment of physical commitment. Mannarino retrieved a difficult ball, forcing Shelton to lunge desperately into the corner to make contact. The American slid, fell hard, and literally tumbled to the court, but he managed to get the ball back just in time for Mannarino to net his reply.
The crowd erupted. Shelton, pumping his fist and cupping his ear, celebrated a hard-fought, defining moment of the tournament. The 6-4 scoreline put him up two sets to one, seemingly on the path to the fourth round. Yet, the price for that point was catastrophically high. Moments into the start of the fourth set, the American began wincing. He clutched his left shoulder and quickly signaled to his father and coach, Bryan Shelton, telling his box that he had suffered what he later described as the “worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life.” The injury was not immediately visible, but the impact on his game was instant and devastating, abruptly shifting the momentum of a match he appeared to have firmly in his grasp.
A Desperate Tactical Shift and the Difficult Decision
Despite the searing pain that radiated through his shoulder, Shelton, who later confirmed this was the first time in his professional career he had ever retired from a match, chose to continue. He took a medical timeout on court, receiving treatment from the trainer, but the core issue remained. With his signature weapon—the serve—compromised, Shelton had to drastically abandon his aggressive baseline approach.
His modified tactic became one of desperation and maturity: he committed to the net. Over the course of the fourth set, Shelton employed the serve-and-volley tactic with far greater frequency than in the entire match prior, attempting to shorten points and avoid the high-impact stress of baseline rallies. The sheer will to compete was evident as he fought off four set points in one grueling service game. However, the movement change was a clear admission of physical failure; he was visibly hindered, wincing after almost every forehand and serve. Mannarino, the veteran, was too experienced to be flustered by the change, patiently passing Shelton or forcing a missed volley. After Mannarino clinched the fourth set 6-4, tying the match at two sets all, Shelton conferred one last time with his father, who wisely signaled for his son to call it. The sight of Shelton retiring, with a towel covering his head and tears in his eyes, was a poignant moment of recognition: some battles are too costly to finish.
The Veteran’s Unlikely Triumph and Mutual Respect
While the victory was clouded by his opponent’s injury, the result represented a tremendous personal breakthrough for Adrian Mannarino. At 37 years old and playing in his 15th US Open main draw, the French veteran finally reached the fourth round in New York for the very first time. Furthermore, the victory marked his first career win against a Top 10 opponent at a Grand Slam, breaking a demoralizing 0-22 drought. It was a testament to his longevity and the efficacy of his unique, frustrating game style.
In his post-match interview, Mannarino was quick to share the spotlight, offering genuine commiseration for his opponent. “When he started to have pain, he was leading in the match,” Mannarino said humbly. “Honestly, he probably would have won that match. That’s unfortunate for him, and lucky for me.” This gesture of sportsmanship highlighted the inherent fairness of the veteran, who advanced not through superior play in the final moments, but through his relentless consistency that pushed Shelton to his physical breaking point. Mannarino’s unlikely continued run is a reminder that in tennis, craft, guile, and endurance can occasionally overcome youthful, raw power.
The Cost of Power: A Question of Longevity
Ben Shelton’s sudden withdrawal raises a critical question about the physical sustainability of his aggressive, maximum-effort style of play. The American’s high-speed, powerful serve is his greatest asset, but it also places immense, repetitive stress on the left shoulder joint. Biomechanical analysts have noted that his unique motion involves an exceptionally high contact point and intense internal shoulder rotation, necessary to generate the sheer pace and spin he commands.
The forced retirement halts a breakthrough summer for the 22-year-old, who was playing some of the best tennis of his career. Preserving his health, especially his serving arm, is now paramount for his long-term success. While the exact nature of the injury was not immediately confirmed, the episode serves as a powerful cautionary tale: in a sport increasingly defined by raw athleticism, the body’s durability is the ultimate limiting factor. Shelton’s focus must now shift entirely to recovery and rehabilitation, aiming to return to the court strong enough to wield his ‘howitzer’ serve without the risk of future setbacks. Despite the heartbreak, the maturity shown in prioritizing his health ensures that the American hope remains firmly on track for a long and potentially successful career.
