“I’m really happy to be in the second round here in Munich,” American rising star Ben Shelton exclaimed after overcoming Borna Gojo in his BMW Open opener. This victory was particularly significant for the 23-year-old, who had faced the disappointment of consecutive first-round exits in Miami and Monte Carlo within a mere two weeks. While local favorite Alexander Zverev naturally holds a strong position with the fans, a growing number are also rallying behind Shelton, placing their hopes on his pursuit of BMW Open glory.

Just a day after saving 3 match points against Borna Gojo, Ben Shelton stormed into the BMW Open QF with a more commanding performance. The 2nd seed overpowered two-time runner-up Botic Van de Zandschulp, 7-6(1), 6-3, winning an impressive 83% of his 1st-serve points. Now boasting a 12-7 record for the season and reaching his third QF of the year, Shelton has fans on the edge of their seats, passionately backing the American to chase glory in Munich.

On the same day, an Instagram fan page named Loevik & Sons and BMW Open’s official account shared a fun, fan-favorite moment outside the BMW Open. The short video featured a board that read “Who will win the BMW Open?” with a mic placed above it, inviting fans to voice their predictions.

Initially, the clip showcased a strong wave of support for Ben Shelton, with four fans stepping forward to confidently back the American for the Munich title. However, the momentum shifted as the clip continued, with a far greater number – fourteen fans – expressing their belief in Alexander Zverev as the overwhelming favorite in his home tournament. Despite a single mention of Ugo Humbert, the narrative of the clip was largely dominated by the contrasting predictions for Zverev and Shelton.

Mirroring Shelton’s progress, World No. 3 Alexander Zverev secured his spot in the 99th quarter final of his career on the ATP Tour with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over his fellow German, Daniel Altmaier on Wednesday. This win keeps Zverev on track for his third BMW Open title (after back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018), and his first since 2018. The Hamburg native was efficient, converting four of his six break point opportunities to seal the 80-minute victory. Zverev is aiming to lift his first trophy since his triumph at the Paris Masters last year.

Meanwhile, Shelton’s quarterfinal appearance in Munich marks a notable achievement, making him the youngest American to reach this stage of the tournament since Jim Courier did so in 1990 at the age of 19. Subsequently, Shelton offered his assessment: “I’ve figured out how to manage my serve, raise my first-serve percentage a bit and be winning a lot off of my first serve, I’m happy. There’s a lot that I can continue to build on going forward in this tournament,” to ATP Media.

With Shelton’s success on the field in Germany, Trinity Rodman’s support remains strong as she congratulates him on reaching the quarterfinals.

Trinity Rodman shares her support for Ben Shelton as the American ace eases past Botic Van de Zandschulp 

The 15th seed Ben Shelton is currently stealing the spotlight both on and off the court, and he’s got a pretty powerful cheerleader in his corner: none other than USWNT star Trinity Rodman. A few days ago, Ben shared an IG carousel that featured Trinity, and her playful comment: “Obsessed with you, Benny”, now reads more like a declaration than a compliment. And after his recent success at the BMW Open, she’s turning up the volume on her support in the most heartwarming way.

After Shelton’s career-defining win against Van de Zandschulp, fans erupted in celebration. Meanwhile, it didn’t take long for Trinity to show she was just as hyped. She shared a match highlight from ATP Tour’s IG post on her stories with the caption: “Insane 😤💪,” clearly proud and blown away by her boyfriend’s on-court brilliance. And if that wasn’t enough, Trinity had more to say!

Just hours after that win, she reposted another highlight reel of Ben, this time from his collaboration with “Thorne Health”. The supplement brand shared dynamic photos of the rising star for a campaign blending athletic grit with wellness finesse. Trinity’s reaction? “Ur kidding, right? 😍😩😍❤️” a flirty, heartfelt stamp of approval from his lady luck!

Now, Shelton faces his next challenge: a QF showdown with Italian talent Luciano Darderi, who made a comeback win against Miomir Kecmanovic. With Shelton’s growing momentum, the roar of his fans, and the unwavering support of Trinity Rodman behind him, the energy is electric. Will he ride this wave to the SF?