Ben Shelton knocks out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz at 03:33 in US Open quarterfinal

Record late finish at Arthur Ashe Stadium

Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal that concluded at 03:33 local time at Arthur Ashe Stadium, establishing a record for the latest finish in US Open history. The previous tournament record was held by Alcaraz, who completed a victory at 02:50. The night session began at 23:05, ranking as the third latest start for a men's match in tournament history. Nearly 24,000 spectators remained in the arena throughout the encounter, which lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes under the floodlights.

Shift in momentum and physical toll

Alcaraz took the opening set in a tiebreak after countering Shelton's baseline power, even after Shelton converted an overhead smash that brought spectators to their feet. Following that exchange, Shelton's father and coach, Bryan Shelton, gestured from the player's box urging calm. Shelton responded by winning nine consecutive games across sets, taking the second set 6-1 and the third 6-3 with serves reaching speeds of up to 240 kilometers per hour. For Alcaraz, who missed more than four months of competition due to a wrist injury prior to the tournament, unforced errors accumulated during extended baseline rallies. At 3-5 in the third set, the 23-year-old Spaniard earned a break point but failed to convert, leaning on his racket and showing visible frustration on the bench.

Pre-match adjustments and deciding tiebreak

The contest marked a reversal from their 2025 French Open meeting, where Alcaraz defeated Shelton in four sets on clay. Before stepping onto the court in New York, Shelton pointed to specific technical progress in his game and predicted a different dynamic on the hard court.

“My serve is better, my return much better. The overall quality of my shots from the baseline and my movement have improved. I think that it will definitely be a different match when I play here.”

Alcaraz mounted a response in the fourth set, capturing it 6-1 to force a decider. Shelton then opened the fifth set on serve at 02:27 local time. Both players held serve through twelve consecutive games, sending the contest into a first-to-ten match tiebreak. Shelton closed out the tiebreak 10-7 with an ace at 03:33 to complete the 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory.

Semifinal pairings and tournament picture

The victory advances the 23-year-old Shelton to his second career US Open semifinal, matching his run from the 2023 tournament. It also represents his third appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal, following a run at the 2025 Australian Open. Shelton will face compatriot Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semifinal clash. On the opposite side of the draw, Alexander Zverev meets Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in their scheduled quarterfinal match in New York, with the winner positioned to meet either Shelton or Tiafoe in the final.