Mannarino advances to US Open fourth round after Shelton retires hurt

Adrian Mannarino advanced to the U.S. Open fourth round on Friday after Ben Shelton was forced to retire with a left shoulder injury in a dramatic third round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The match was tied at two sets apiece at 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6 when the No. 6-seeded American left the court in visible pain early in the fourth set and could not continue.

Shelton, 22, complained of severe pain in his left shoulder after a forehand early in the fourth set, took a medical timeout and attempted to play on before stopping. He told his father and coach in the stands that it was the worst pain he had ever felt and later said at his postmatch news conference that he had never retired from a match before. He also sought to put the result in perspective, saying he had much to be grateful for after a breakthrough season.

Mannarino, 37 and ranked outside the top 70, praised Shelton’s game and expressed sympathy. In his on-court interview the Frenchman said that when Shelton began to feel pain he was leading and probably would have won the match. Mannarino called the encounter “a pretty cool match” and said he was happy to advance but wished his opponent well.