Rodman was courtside at Arthur Ashe Stadium until 3:33 a.m. to watch Shelton defeat Carlos Alcaraz in a historic five-set quarterfinal.
The 4-Hour Marathon That Established a Tournament Record
The match began at 11:05 p.m. Tuesday and stretched across 4 hours and 28 minutes of intense tennis. Shelton ultimately secured a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory, punctuated by a blistering 146-mph ace.
The win marked a massive career breakthrough. Heavy.com noted that Shelton entered the match with a 0-17 career record against players ranked inside the ATP’s top three. By downing Alcaraz, the world No. 3 and a seven-time major champion, Shelton snapped both Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and his run of 12 consecutive five-set victories.
As the final point was sealed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Rodman rose from her seat in the player’s box. She mirrored Shelton’s signature phone-hanging-up celebration before embracing him near the court. Later, she shared her perspective on Instagram Stories, writing simply: “My world,” according to Heavy.com.
From Arthur Ashe Stadium Straight to the Pitch
Elite athletic schedules leave little room for romantic pacing. While Shelton expressed hope in his post-match remarks that his sister and best friend would not have to report to work just three hours later, Rodman faced a similarly demanding operational reality.
The Spirit shared footage of the star forward back on the training ground, while Rodman herself posted a video from the session on TikTok. The rapid turnaround highlighted the logistical juggling act required of two professional athletes navigating parallel peak-performance careers.
The Impending Scheduling Collision in D.C. and New York
As both athletes advance deeper into their respective seasons, calendar conflicts threaten to test their support system. Heavy.com pointed out an unavoidable scheduling overlap looming for the weekend. The Washington Spirit are scheduled to host Boston Legacy FC at 1 p.m. Sunday at Audi Field.
Meanwhile, if Shelton defeats Frances Tiafoe in Friday’s all-American semifinal, his first US Open final is slated to begin at 2 p.m. Sunday in New York. With the two venues separated by more than 200 miles and match times starting just one hour apart, physical presence at both events is mathematically impossible. For now, however, both stars remain focused on their immediate competitive hurdles.
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- Shelton Stuns Alcaraz in Thrilling 3.33am US Open Finale: Key Takeaways from Historic Match – The Irish Times” “US Open Tennis 2023: Ben Shelton Beats Carlos Alcaraz in Historic 3.33am Finish – Irish Times Analysis” “US Open Night Match: Ben Shelton’s Surprise Victory Over Carlos Alcaraz in 3.33am Thriller – Irish Times Review (archyworldys.com)
