Ben Shelton retires from match with shoulder injury in US Open crusher

Ben Shelton’s quest to return to the U.S. Open semifinals for the second time in three years ended with an apparent left shoulder injury and an emotional exit at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Shelton retired following the fourth set of his third-round match against unseeded Adrian Mannarino on Friday, with the injury prompting a visit from the trainer earlier in the contest before ultimately ending the No. 6 seed’s stint in Queens before a decisive fifth set.

Ben Shelton walks off the court following his Aug. 29 match at the US Open. AFP via Getty Images

He won the first set, 6-3, but proceeded to drop two of the next three, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6.

Following the fourth set, Shelton embraced Mannarino near the net and walked off the court to a loud ovation with a towel draped over his head, pausing to acknowledge to the crowd at different points before he reached the tunnel.

Ben Shelton reacts after retiring in his Aug. 29 match at the US Open. AP

Ben Shelton grabs his shoulder during his Aug. 29 match. REUTERS

Ben Shelton reacts at the US Open on Aug. 29. REUTERS

Shelton’s injury seemingly occurred at set point in the second set, when, in the middle of a lengthy rally, he dove toward the left corner, tumbled onto the court and still managed to send a shot into the corner that Mannarino proceeded to hit into the net.

Shelton continued to showcase signs of playing through pain during the fourth set before ultimately deciding to stop the match before returning to the court for a fifth.

Ben Shelton receives medical attention on his left shoulder during his Aug. 29 match at the US Open. REUTERS

“When he started having pain, he was leading in the match,” Mannarino said on the court following the match, according to The Tennis Letter.” He probably would’ve won. It’s unfortunate for him and very lucky for me. Don’t really know what to say right now. I suppose I’m happy to get through, but I wish him the best of course.”

Shelton, who made the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon earlier this year, entered the U.S. Open still looking for his first career Grand Slam title.

He cruised through his first two matches without dropping a set, and as the player with the second-highest ranking for an American tennis player behind just No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz, Shelton marked one of the country’s best chances for snapping its men’s Grand Slam drought that dates back to Andy Roddick’s 2003 title at the U.S. Open.