Ben Shelton ended defending champion Carlos Alcaraz’s U.S. Open title defense in a five-set quarterfinal that stretched deep into the New York night.
Shelton prevailed 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) after four hours and 28 minutes. The match concluded at approximately 3:33 a.m., setting a record for the latest finish in tournament history, according to Reuters.
A match of momentum swings
Alcaraz claimed the opening set in a tiebreak, but Shelton responded decisively in the second and carried that momentum into the third. The defending champion forced a fifth set with a dominant fourth, leaving the match to be decided by another tiebreak.
Shelton stayed aggressive under pressure and closed out the contest in front of a crowd that remained at Arthur Ashe Stadium into the early morning. The result ranks among the biggest victories of the American’s career.
An all-American semifinal
The win sends Shelton into a semifinal against fellow American Frances Tiafoe. That matchup guarantees an American finalist and gives the home crowd another major moment in a tournament already marked by late finishes and dramatic five-set battles.
For Alcaraz, the loss ends his attempt to defend the championship. For Shelton, it creates an opportunity to reach his first U.S. Open final and continue a run built on explosive serving, athletic defense and confidence in decisive points.
What comes next
Recovery will be a central storyline after the quarterfinal’s unusual finish time. Shelton must quickly reset physically and mentally before meeting Tiafoe, whose speed and shot-making present a different challenge.
Sources: Official U.S. Open match report; Reuters reporting.
Photo: Ben Shelton at the 2022 U.S. Open by 350z33, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. This historical file photo does not depict the 2026 match. TalkLife News branding added.
