Shelton Ends Alcaraz’s U.S. Open Reign in Record Late-Night Marathon

NEW YORK — Ben Shelton concluded a grueling five-set battle against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday, delivering the decisive 146 mph ace that ended the world No. 2’s title reign and set a new standard for the latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history.

The victory, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7), snapped Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak in a contest that lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes. Shelton will advance to the semifinals to face fellow American Frances Tiafoe, securing a U.S. presence in Sunday’s final for the first time since Andy Roddick’s victory in 2003.

“I’m tired. It was a war,” Shelton said. “Carlos is one of the greatest champions of our sport. It was the most enjoyable match I’ve had in my career, for sure.”

Alcaraz, playing in his first tournament since returning from a right wrist injury in April, fought through physical exhaustion and even vomited before the final set. Despite falling behind, he refused to yield until the match tiebreak, where he initially took a 5-3 lead.

“I mean it was close, it was really close, so I was disappointed I didn’t get the win at the end,” Alcaraz said. “But I’m happy, I am proud of myself about how I fought. As I said, physically I was really tired but I found a way to push myself.”

The match drew a raucous crowd that remained in Arthur Ashe Stadium nearly a third full at the finish. Shelton credited the home support, noting fans chanted his name and yelled “USA!” throughout the marathon.

“It’s incredible,” Shelton said. “I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world… I’m just hoping that my best friend and my sister over there don’t have to be at work at 6 a.m. in three hours.”

Alcaraz now drops to a 15-2 record in five-set matches. He had previously set the U.S. Open’s late-night record in 2022 with a 2:50 a.m. finish against Jannik Sinner, a match that propelled him to his first Grand Slam title at age 19.

In the other quarterfinal, No. 11 seed Tiafoe overcame a 3-0 fifth-set deficit against unseeded American Alex Michelsen to reach his third U.S. Open semifinal. Michelsen, ranked No. 46, had been the only man to avoid dropping a set prior to this match but fell to 0-6 in five-setters.

Tiafoe’s win moves him into the top 10 for the first time in three years and makes him only the second American man, alongside Andre Agassi, to reach three semifinals at Flushing Meadows this century. Shelton also reaches his third major semifinal, having previously made the final four at the 2023 U.S. Open and 2025 Australian Open.

The day’s action, which saw three of four men’s quarterfinals decide via match tiebreakers, also saw Aryna Sabalenka edge Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova to keep her hopes of a third consecutive U.S. Open title alive.