As the official 10th day of play in New York moved deeper into the remote hours of the new morning, Ben Shelton claimed the most significant victory of his career by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in a grueling five-set US Open quarter-final. The match, which did not start until 11.04pm, concluded at 3.33 a.m. local time on Wednesday after 4 hours and 29 minutes of play. Shelton overcame the reigning champion with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7) to reach the semi-finals.
The atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium remained electric until the final point, despite the early morning hour. Alcaraz, who had entered the match with high expectations, struggled to maintain his momentum. After a focused start, the seven-time grand slam winner saw his intensity decline, losing nine consecutive games during a difficult stretch of the match. His performance was hampered by physical fatigue, with the Spaniard visibly struggling.
Shelton showcased remarkable resilience and tactical variety throughout the contest, providing the perfect climax to 16 hours of greatness. Even after missing critical opportunities in the final set, the American held his nerve to secure the win. Reflecting on the challenge, Shelton praised his opponent, calling Alcaraz one of the sport's greatest champions and describing the encounter as the most enjoyable match of his professional career.
For Alcaraz, the loss marked a premature end to his title defense, but he remained positive about his return to competition. He stated that his primary goal for the tournament was to compete while staying healthy. Despite the exhaustion, he expressed pride in his fighting spirit and credited Shelton for his powerful and well-managed performance.
This quarter-final served as a dramatic conclusion to a day of intense tennis that included comeback victories for Aryna Sabalenka, Frances Tiafoe, and Jessica Pegula. With Alcaraz out of the draw, a new US Open champion is guaranteed. Shelton is now set to face his compatriot and friend Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals, marking the first time an American man has reached this stage of a grand slam since Andy Roddick’s historic run 23 years ago.
Epic quarter-final ends after 3.30am in New York
Alcaraz left everything on the court, his lack of physical preparation also reflected in periods of fatigue and even vomiting into his towel on the court towards the end of the fourth set. Afterwards, he refused to leave the tournament downbeat after being part of such an immense battle against one of the best players in the world so early in his comeback from a serious injury. “As I said before the tournament began, my expectation was to go there, compete, play in these kind of matches for me being healthy,” he said.
