Ben Shelton opens up on his unique relationship with Trinity Rodman and the surprising way they got over US Open heartbreak

Some prefer to deal with their sporting heartbreak in private, but there was Ben Shelton at The Gem Saloon in New York City just hours after his loss to Alexander Zverev in the U.S.Open final on Sept.

13.The American pro told The Post that he had planned on going to the trendy tavern, co-owned by NBA legend Steve Nash, with his family and close friends — including soccer star girlfriend Trinity Rodman — regardless of the outcome in his first Grand Slam final.“[Steve] is a good friend, and the first time that I made the [U.S.Open] semifinals here in 2023, he let us have our after party dinner there,” Shelton, 23, said on behalf of his partnership with Thorne.

“So we decided to run it back again this year.It’s a cool spot.” A photo of Shelton with two tavern employees on The Gem Saloon Instagram account made waves online.Despite not being pictured at the after party, Rodman was there as well -— just as she was throughout his two-week run in Queens.Shelton and Rodman’s love story made headlines throughout the U.S.

Open — specifically centered on Rodman, who’s currently in the middle of the NSWL season with the Washington Spirt, flying back and forth from D.C.to New York to support him.On the day of the final, Rodman had a 1 p.m.

game in Boston before she hustled back to New York for the tennis matchup that started an hour later.Shelton joked that Rodman, 24, showed up as he was “taking the L” and receiving his runner-up trophy at the U.S.Open final ceremony.“I didn’t think that she was going to make it in time for the match,” Shelton said.

“I knew that she would be there after the match was over.But I thought it was going be impossible for her to actually make it to the match.

She kind of arrived right as the ceremony was starting, right after I lost.“I know that was tough for her, to grind as hard as she could to get here.That was weird.

She shows up as I’m taking the ‘L.’ But it was a superhuman effort from her.”S...