It’s also been a special trip for Shelton, who was accompanied by girlfriend Trinity Rodman, the Washington Spirit forward who is one of the biggest names on the United States women’s football team. The duo revealed their relationship last March and have become one of sport’s biggest power couples.
“It’s been great to start the year off with her here,” said Shelton. “It’s few and far between the time that we get to go to each other’s sporting events, so it’s always a blessing for sure.”
Rodman attended most of Shelton’s training sessions and was courtside for both of his matches, riding the highs and lows that tennis brings.
“Yeah, she is a nervous watcher for sure,” smiled Shelton.
Most of the trip was business – with a heavy practice schedule and the two matches – but the couple managed to explore the central city and sample some nice restaurants.
“Mostly just eating,” laughed Shelton, when asked when they did with rare time together. “Eating and coffee shops. There’s a lot of good food here in Auckland, so we’ve been able to enjoy that for sure.”
It was Shelton’s fourth visit to New Zealand, where he made the semi-finals in 2024. He has become a crowd favourite, even if the Stanley Street fans haven’t always witnessed the best of him.
“I’m sure they’d love to see me win a couple more matches here one day,” said Shelton. “But I know that they have a lot of love for me here and I have a lot of love for them as well. That’s why I keep coming back.”
The 23-year-old admitted that Thursday was a difficult scenario as he had arrived on site at 10.45am and didn’t get on court until 7.30pm.
“It was one of the longest days that you’ll have on site at a tennis tournament but we’re used to it,” said Shelton. “It’s part of the sport.”
Shelton added that the uncertainty over whether their match would be moved indoors – organisers eventually decided not to – added to the challenge but he could have “handled it better”.
Shelton was typically candid about Friday’s hot and cold performance, where he mixed such dazzling play with numerous errors.
“It was a bad serving performance from me,” admitted Shelton. “I just wasn’t hitting my spots the way that I needed to against someone as solid as him.”
Shelton will begin his fourth Australian Open campaign next week. He reached the semi-finals last year – eliminated by eventual champion Jannik Sinner – after making the quarter-finals in 2023 and the third round in 2024.
Shelton faces France’s Ugo Humbert in the first round – though don’t tell him that.
“I haven’t looked and I don’t want to know,” said Shelton. “I’ll look maybe a day or two before. If you look ahead in the draw, it works for some people. For me, getting ahead of myself is not a good thing.”
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.
