The 23-year-old American shared an emotional message on Instagram on Monday, Sept. 14, one day after falling to Alexander Zverev in the men's singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"Most fun 2 weeks of my life. I left absolutely everything out there on the court, and despite being gutted about losing yesterday, I'm more motivated than I've ever been," Shelton wrote alongside a carousel of photos from his time at the tournament.
One of the images showed Shelton holding his runners-up trophy while standing alongside Zverev, who captured his second Grand Slam title of the year. Shelton also shared a moment with his girlfriend, NWSL star Trinity Rodman, who supported him from the players box during the final.
Another photo showed the tennis star meeting NBA player Cade Cunningham during the tournament.
Shelton also congratulated Zverev on his victory, writing, "@alexzverev123 congrats on your 2nd slam this year 🙌🏽."
Despite falling short of the championship, Shelton's run marked an important moment in American tennis history. By reaching the final on Sunday, Sept. 13, he became the first Black American man to compete in a US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
Shelton's historic appearance came after an impressive tournament run that took him to his first major final. He ultimately lost to Zverev in four sets, 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2.
Following the defeat, Shelton took time to recognize the people who helped him reach the biggest stage of his career. During his post-match remarks, he became emotional while thanking his team for their continued support.
"To my squad over here in this corner, every one of you guys is so special in your own way," Shelton said as Rodman applauded from the stands. "You guys showed up to support me or have shown up to support me every day of my career. I appreciate you guys. Love you, guys."
Although the result was not what Shelton had hoped for, his message afterward made clear that the experience had strengthened his determination. After reaching his first Grand Slam final and making history along the way, the young American is already looking ahead to what comes next.
