Ben Shelton and Trinity Rodman have spent more than a year figuring out how to fit two elite sports careers into one relationship, but Shelton says the most demanding stretch may be happening now. The tennis star told Us Weekly that making time for each other is “really difficult,” even when their schedules finally give them a few days together.
Shelton, 23, explained that those rare breaks do not necessarily feel like vacations because both athletes are often exhausted by the time they arrive. Speaking to the outlet while promoting his partnership with Thorne, he said tournament travel can leave him feeling like “a zombie” and acknowledged that neither he nor Rodman, 24, is ready to ease off professionally.
That is why Shelton described the current period as the “hardest, most grueling time” in their relationship from his perspective. Both are still chasing larger goals in their sports, he said, but having a partner who understands elite competition also means he does not have to explain why travel, recovery and training sometimes take priority over a normal routine.
The couple went public with their relationship in March 2025, and their schedules have repeatedly put that understanding to the test. Nothing illustrated it more clearly than Shelton’s run to his first US Open final earlier this month, when Rodman repeatedly moved between Washington Spirit commitments and New York to support him.
Rodman Made a Cross-Sport Sprint to Shelton’s US Open Final
The people who show up through every moment. 💙 pic.twitter.com/tJuCqzBwJ9
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 13, 2026
Shelton told Us that Rodman flew back and forth during the tournament “six or seven times,” and he suggested even that estimate might be low. He said she “grinded a ridiculous amount” to keep showing up, allowing him to share the biggest run of his career with both Rodman and members of his family.
The most difficult turnaround came on September 13. The Washington Spirit confirmed that Rodman’s team hosted Boston Legacy at Audi Field that afternoon and lost 3-0, while Shelton was playing Alexander Zverev in Queens. The US Open reported that Rodman began the day roughly 240 miles south of Arthur Ashe Stadium but still reached Shelton’s player box before the fourth set ended.
Reuters independently reported that Rodman made the trip after playing for Washington and arrived in time to catch the end of Shelton’s four-set loss to Zverev. Shelton later told USOpen.org that her effort “means everything,” especially because he knew getting from Washington to New York in time would be “pretty close to impossible.”
Shelton Says Neither of Them Is Ready to Slow Down
After a thrilling summer that saw Ben Shelton make a run to the US Open men’s final, the tennis superstar candidly admitted that making time to nourish his relationship with girlfriend Trinity Rodman comes with some hurdles. https://t.co/5g8xErJBPc
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) September 28, 2026
The travel is unlikely to become easier soon because Shelton says both athletes still believe there is more for them to accomplish. He told Us that they are “not in our primes” and described the current period as “crunch time,” meaning neither is looking to trade competitive opportunities for a more conventional schedule.
That can make the limited time they do have together less glamorous than it appears from the outside. Shelton said the strain includes living in hotels, spending little time at home and constantly preparing for the next trip, but Rodman’s own experience at the top level gives him someone who already understands those demands.
The Scheduling Problem Was There From the Beginning
Shelton was already describing the same challenge only weeks after the relationship became public. In an April 2025 interview with Us Weekly, he said making the relationship work “isn’t the easiest” and argued that their situation required “two selfless people” who were willing to make sacrifices for each other.
Shelton told Town & Country a few months later that Rodman’s injury rehabilitation had temporarily made it easier for her to travel to some of his tournaments. Under their normal competitive schedules, he said, “we won’t be able to see each other compete much.”