Ben Shelton Exits Us Open With Shoulder Injury As Mannarino Moves On

Ben Shelton’s hopes of different heavy tally astatine nan US Open were dashed connected Friday erstwhile nan American was forced to discontinue from his third-round lucifer pinch a enarthrosis injury, handing France’s Adrian Mannarino a spot successful nan past 16 for nan first time.

The No 6 seed, who reached nan semi-finals successful New York 2 years ago, had been starring by 2 sets to 1 and appeared successful power earlier disaster struck. Late successful nan 3rd group Shelton landed heavy connected his near limb while chasing down a ball, and by nan commencement of nan 4th he was visibly compromised. “I did thing to my shoulder. I don’t cognize what it is,” he muttered towards his begetter and coach, Bryan, aft wincing done an early game.

From that constituent nan 22-year-old tried to improvise, rushing nan nett to shorten points and masking nan nonaccomplishment of gait connected his serve. But Mannarino, a 37-year-old left-hander renowned for his persistence, made nan astir of his opponent’s troubles. He pressed nan rumor successful a grinding 4th set, converting his sixth group constituent to level nan lucifer astatine 2 sets apiece.

As nan crowd connected Louis Armstrong Stadium braced for a decider, Shelton summoned nan trainer erstwhile more, sat pinch his caput bowed and aft a short speech conceded nan lucifer aft Mannarino returned fromm a bath break. The last people was logged arsenic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, ret, aft 3 hours and 7 minutes connected court. The American fought backmost tears arsenic he exited, his enarthrosis wrapped successful ice, acknowledging nan crowd while he walked off.

“It’s very unfortunate for him and fortunate for me,” Mannarino said. “When he started to person symptom he was starring nan lucifer – he honestly astir apt would person won that match.”

For nan Frenchman, classed 77th, it was a bittersweet breakthrough. In his 15th main-draw quality astatine Flushing Meadows, he yet reached nan 2nd week and claimed his first triumph complete a top-10 force astatine a expansive slam. He will look nan No 20 seed, Jiri Lehecka of nan Czech Republic, for a spot successful nan quarter-finals.

Shelton’s exit is simply a rustle to American hopes. The left-hander has been 1 of nan game’s rising stars complete nan past 2 years, his booming service and charismatic beingness making him a marquee attraction successful New York. He arrived connected nan backmost of a maiden Masters 1000 title successful Toronto and a quarter-final tally successful Cincinnati, and his matured crippled had carried him done his opening 2 rounds without nan nonaccomplishment of a set.