Ben Shelton defeats Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in latest US Open finish

A five-set midnight contest

Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the US Open semi-finals. The quarter-final match began around 11:00 PM local time on Tuesday, 8 September, following extended scheduling delays caused by two previous matches that ended in super tiebreaks. The contest lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes, concluding at 3:33 AM on Wednesday morning in New York. The late finish established a new tournament record, surpassing the previous latest finish of 2:50 AM set during the 2022 quarter-final between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Shelton secured the victory with a final score of 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7).

Momentum swings and physical strain

Alcaraz claimed the first set by taking the tiebreak 7-5, but Shelton responded by seizing control across the next two sets. The ninth-ranked American captured the second and third sets 6-1 and 6-3, routinely delivering serves exceeding 130 mph (reaching speeds of up to 240 km/h). Alcaraz showed visible fatigue as the match extended into early morning, vomited into a towel during a changeover in the fourth set, and experienced discomfort in his right wrist. Despite the physical strain, the 23-year-old Spaniard recovered to win the fourth set 6-1, sending the quarter-final into a fifth set. The loss was only Alcaraz's second defeat in 17 career five-set Grand Slam matches.

Deciding super tiebreak

Neither competitor surrendered a service break throughout the fifth set as play reached the five-hour mark of tournament scheduling. Shelton held to lead 4-3 and created two break points in the eighth game, but Alcaraz held his serve to bring the score to 4-4. With the set tied 6-6, the match entered a 10-point super tiebreak. Alcaraz secured an early mini-break to lead 5-3 before Shelton won five of the next six points, including a 146 mph unreturned serve to take a 7-6 lead. Shelton closed out the 10-7 tiebreak with an ace.

Following the match, Shelton commented on the physical intensity and his opponent.

“I am tired, it was an epic match. Definitely the most exciting match I have played in my entire career.”

“Carlos is already one of the greatest champions of our sport at only 23 years old. It is always fun to play against him.”

Semi-final lineup and tournament impact

The result marked Shelton's first career victory over Alcaraz and his first win against a top-three ranked player at a Grand Slam tournament. Shelton earned his third career Grand Slam semi-final appearance and his second at the US Open, following his 2023 semi-final run. The defeat ended Alcaraz's 18-match winning streak at Grand Slam tournaments, which spanned his 2025 US Open title and his 2026 Australian Open championship. Alcaraz was competing after a four-month absence caused by a right wrist injury that forced him to miss Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and all summer preparatory tournaments. With top seeds Jannik Sinner absent and Novak Djokovic eliminated in the first round, Shelton advances to an all-American semi-final against Frances Tiafoe, who defeated Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(10-6).