English
Ben Shelton delivered one of the most dramatic performances in U.S. Open history on Tuesday night, defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller that ended at 3:33 a.m. — the latest finish ever recorded at the tournament. The victory sends Shelton into the semifinals, where he will face fellow American Francis Tiafoe, guaranteeing an American man in Sunday’s final for the first time in years.
The last U.S. men’s player to win a Grand Slam was Andy Roddick, also at the U.S. Open, back in 2003. Both Shelton and Tiafoe now have a chance to end that 21-year drought.
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A Match That Pushed Every Limit
The quarterfinal lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes. Shelton, the eighth seed, broke Alcaraz’s 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments. The contest was physically brutal for both players. At one point, Alcaraz vomited into a towel on the sideline.
Alcaraz, the second seed, had missed most of the season with a wrist injury. Tuesday’s match was his first tournament appearance since April. Despite that lengthy absence, he pushed Shelton to the absolute limit throughout the night.
Shelton lost the opening set on a tiebreak. He then responded strongly, winning the second and third sets to take control. However, Alcaraz fought back and took the fourth set 6-1, forcing a deciding fifth set. The two players exchanged breaks and held firm in turn, and neither could separate himself until the final set tiebreak. Shelton ultimately won it 10-7 to seal the match and advance to his third Grand Slam semifinal.
A New Record for Late-Night Tennis
The 3:33 a.m. finish surpassed the previous record for the latest conclusion in U.S. Open history. That record also belonged to an Alcaraz match — his 2022 quarterfinal against Jannik Sinner, which ended at 2:50 a.m. That win helped Alcaraz, then just 19 years old, claim his first U.S. Open title. The U.S. Open has become increasingly known for its late-night marathon matches under the lights at Flushing Meadows.
The raucous New York crowd stayed for every point, creating an electric atmosphere deep into the early morning hours. Shelton’s win now adds another chapter to the tournament’s growing reputation for overnight drama.
A Busy Night of Quarterfinal Action
Tuesday’s singles quarterfinals produced extraordinary tennis across the board. Three of the four matches went to match tiebreakers. Earlier in the day, Aryna Sabalenka edged past Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. That result keeps Sabalenka’s bid for a third consecutive U.S. Open title alive.
Meanwhile, Tiafoe outlasted fellow American Alex Michelsen in another hard-fought contest. Tiafoe staged repeated comebacks throughout the match before eventually securing his place in the semifinals. His victory set up the all-American semifinal against Shelton, a matchup that guarantees the United States will have a representative in Sunday’s final.
For Alcaraz, the defeat ends his campaign at Flushing Meadows. He will now focus on regaining the form that made him one of the sport’s dominant forces before his injury disrupted his season.
