In a shocking turn of events at the US Open, rising tennis star Ben Shelton was forced to retire from his third-round match due to a painful injury, dashing hopes for his title run.

Shelton, who has been heralded as a potential US Open champion following his stunning victory at the Canadian Open, faced off against Adrian Mannarino when the unexpected happened. Mannarino advanced to the fourth round as Shelton exited.

The tennis community has rallied around Shelton, with reactions pouring in from fellow players, including Taylor Fritz. Amid this outcry, former world doubles number one Pam Shriver has taken a bold stand, advocating for significant changes in the sport.

Pam Shriver's Bold Proposal for Tennis

After Shelton's retirement, Shriver voiced her concerns about the demanding nature of men's Grand Slam matches, which are traditionally played as best of five sets. In light of recent injuries—Shelton's, coupled with Novak Djokovic's and Carlos Alcaraz's medical timeouts—Shriver believes a shorter format is essential.

On X (formerly Twitter), she remarked, 'I understand the tradition of men playing three of five sets in majors, but given the way tennis is played now—with more travel, extreme heat, and the depth of the game—early rounds have become increasingly grueling. We need a more manageable format. I hope both Ben and Novak recover.'

Shelton's Injury: A Painful Experience

This incident marks Shelton's first retirement from a match, raising questions about the severity of his shoulder injury in his post-match press conference. 'I've never felt anything like this before,' Shelton expressed. 'Usually, I power through pain, but this was different.'

When asked to quantify his pain, Shelton described it as 'really high,' emphasizing his reluctance to quit. 'I’m not the type to retire unless absolutely necessary.'

What's Next for Ben Shelton?

As Shelton awaits further examination and scans to determine his recovery timeline, the tennis world watches closely, hoping for a swift return for this promising young talent.

With calls for reform echoing in response to health and safety concerns in the sport, the conversation around the structure of Grand Slam matches has never been more urgent. Will the authorities heed Shriver's call for change? Only time will tell!