Ben Shelton defeats Carlos Alcaraz in five-set U.S. Open quarterfinal

American teenager Ben Shelton rallied past defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal at the U.S. Open, winning 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) and advancing to his second semifinal of the tournament. The match, which began late Tuesday night and continued into the early hours of Wednesday, featured Shelton’s powerful serve, recorded at 149 mph, and a variety of spin and placement that helped him hold serve 90.4 percent of the time over the past year, the second-best rate on tour.

Shelton’s return game, historically weaker than his serve, improved enough to keep him competitive, allowing him to win 12 of 26 points that extended beyond nine shots. Alcaraz, playing his first major after a four-month wrist-inflammation layoff, displayed reduced first-serve speed but otherwise appeared in form, having defeated Tommy Paul in straight sets in the previous round.

The turning point came in the second set, where Alcaraz was broken three consecutive times, and Shelton capitalised on baseline errors and double faults from the Spaniard. Shelton’s backhand, described by observers as among the best of his career, helped him sustain longer rallies despite Alcaraz’s aggressive forehand.

"I was impressed by how often he succeeded at that, given the incoming firepower," a commentator noted after the match.

The victory marks a significant milestone for Shelton, who has risen into the top ten largely on the strength of his serve, and sets up a semifinal appearance at the U.S. Open.