Ben Shelton might not have won the US Open, but his attitude tells a different story. As I hop on a Zoom call with the tennis phenom a week after the tournament, he exudes nothing but confidence and gratitude.
“Unless you’re winning every tournament you play, you’re taking losses every week. So you learn to deal with them and kind of always find a way forward,” he tells Popsugar in an exclusive interview discussing his partnership with Thorne. He’s been using the brand’s products for years, from electrolytes during matches to regular creatine doses, which he credits for his mental clarity both on and off the court.
“Whenever we can, we show up for each other.”
Shelton also has his girlfriend Trinity Rodman to thank. The Olympian and star forward for the Washington Spirit has taught him a lot about perspective and focus. “I saw her sit out almost all of last year with a serious injury,” Shelton says. In observing her, Shelton gained a new viewpoint on losses and how to come back even stronger. “There’s a lot worse things that you could deal with in sport than than taking a loss,” Shelton adds. “I’m happy to just be out here, healthy, competing, doing what I love.” It’s easier to maintain that that kind of mental fortitude when you have someone right beside you experiencing similar hurdles.
The athlete power couple has been outspoken about their unwavering support of one another, with Rodman showing up to every singles match of Shelton’s during the US Open — and still making it back for her own games and practices. As Rodman approaches the NWSL playoffs, Shelton shares his commitment to showing her the same kind of support.
“I think that whenever we can, we show up for each other,” he says. “Any time that I’m on the same continent and can make make it to a game, I’m going to be there. And she’s the same.” But when the two aren’t busy traveling across country to cheer each other on in their respective sports, you can find them in full recovery mode on the couch, Shelton says.
“With my personality that I have on court, people think that I’m kind of a high energy, exciting person to be around all the time. But when I’m not playing, training, or when I’m off the court, I like to stay at home,” Shelton says. “I don’t like to come off my couch. I like watching movies.” In the simplest terms: “I am not outside.”
But that doesn’t mean Shelton is unaware of the platform and influence he has over younger generations. He may not be outside, but he’s definitely online. And he hopes that when young people look past his on-court personality (see: Shelton hanging up the symbolic phone on unsuccessful opponents), they see hard work, pure joy, and appreciation for the game. “I hope that people see how much fun I’m having doing it,” Shelton says.
Too often people get stuck in a job or sport because they were pushed into it as a kid or only do it because they’re good, Shelton says. “I think that it’s important to to do what you love, to follow the things that you truly enjoy. For me, that’s worked out really well.”
