Ben Shelton defeats defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in marathon U.S. Open quarterfinal
American No. 8 seed Ben Shelton upset two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal that ended after 3:30 a.m., advancing to the semifinals.
American No. 8 seed Ben Shelton overcame defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal at the U.S. Open, securing a place in the semifinals where he will meet fellow American Frances Tiafoe. The match, which lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes and concluded at 3:33 a.m., marked the latest finish in the tournament’s history.
Shelton broke Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak, winning the second and third sets after dropping the opening set in a tiebreak. Alcaraz, returning from a wrist injury, claimed the fourth set 6-1, forcing a decisive final-set tiebreak that Shelton captured 10-7.
The victory guarantees an American presence in Sunday’s final, a prospect not seen since Andy Roddick’s 2003 title. Earlier in the day, three of the four singles quarterfinals also required match tiebreakers, including Aryna Sabalenka’s win over Linda Noskova and Tiafoe’s comeback against Alex Michelsen.
"It’s incredible," Shelton said, adding that he considers New York the greatest sports city and stadium, and hoping his family won’t have to work early the next morning.