Ben Shelton was dumped out of Wimbledon on Wednesday after losing his quarter-final clash with Jannik Sinner, with the American’s skin causing a stir during the match
Ben Shelton left Wimbledon spectators scratching their heads as they noticed unusual dark circles on his shoulders – a mystery swiftly solved by Clare Balding on air. The rising American talent exited the tournament on Wednesday following a quarter-final defeat to Jannik Sinner.
Despite the loss in straight sets to the Italian, Shelton put on a spirited display. However, it wasn’t just his gameplay that caught the eye – his skin did as well. Fans observed multiple dark rings across his shoulders and upper back during the match on No. 1 Court, sparking curiosity.
Fortunately, BBC host Balding reassured viewers that there was nothing alarming about the marks. “If you’re wondering what the rings are on Shelton’s left shoulder, that’s a technique that the swimmers use quite a lot,” the 54-year-old explained during a pause after the second set.
“It’s called cupping and basically they use cups to create a suction and raise the blood upwards in the underlying tissue, and it promotes blood flow to the area,” Balding continued. “It can relieve muscle tension and pain too, so that’s what those rings are.”
Cupping therapy involves placing suction cups on the body for several minutes, with the aim of increasing circulation or drawing blood away from problem areas. The method is commonly used in athletics for managing soreness or inflammation, though the resulting marks are typically concealed under uniforms or gear.
In Shelton’s case, though, his preference for sleeveless outfits meant the marks were clearly visible. Numerous fans also observed them during his fourth-round triumph over Lorenzo Sonego on Monday, which led to another on-air clarification from Balding.
This year’s quarter-final appearance marked Shelton’s strongest showing at Wimbledon to date. He was eliminated in the fourth round last year, and in 2023 – his first time playing at the All England Club – he exited in round two.
Shelton also managed to eclipse the Wimbledon record of his father, Bryan. The 59-year-old, who was seen supporting his son from the crowd during the Sinner match, played professionally for eight years and captured two ATP titles.
His best run in a Grand Slam was reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1994. As for Sinner, he moved on to his second-ever semi-final at SW19.
The 23-year-old, who has already claimed three Grand Slam titles, will face Novak Djokovic in the last four, and a win there would earn him a spot in the final against either Carlos Alcaraz or Taylor Fritz.
Sinner has dropped just two sets throughout Wimbledon 2025, and only seven across all the majors this year. That remarkable figures drops to four if you exclude the French Open final.
Wimbledon has been the least successful Slam for the world No. 1 so far. He’s already conquered the Australian and US Opens and made it to the Roland Garros final, but has never made it past the semis at SW19.
Now just two matches from glory, Sinner has a chance to cement his dominance across all surfaces. But with a high-profile clash with Djokovic to come – and potentially another against Alcaraz in the final – he’ll need to deliver peak performance to capture the crown.