American Ben Shelton beats Carlos Alcaraz in latest-ever US Open finish
By Ben Church, CNN
(CNN) — US tennis star Ben Shelton eventually got the better of Carlos Alcaraz in the latest-ever finish in US Open history, ending the Spaniard’s title defense and progressing to an all-American semifinal.
The titanic quarterfinal lasted four hours and 28 minutes, eventually ending at 3:33 a.m. local time in New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The match was as dramatic as it sounds, with momentum swinging between the two players battling it out on court.
It all appeared to be going to plan for Alcaraz after he won the first-set tiebreak, but Shelton stormed back in the next two sets to take a 2-1 lead in the match. But the Spaniard won the fourth set to take the contest to a deciding set that went the distance.
With thousands of fans sticking around to watch the epic, Shelton was buoyed by the home support and found the energy to edge the match-deciding tiebreak and win the record-breaking quarterfinal in five sets – 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).
“I mean, it’s incredible,” Shelton said after securing the win with a monster 146-mph serve. “I always say this is the greatest sports city in the world, the greatest stadium in the world.”
He added: “For me, it’s always about the people in the crowd. Whether it’s my coaches and my team over there or my family and friends over here.
“Or the city of New York that showed up tonight until 3 a.m., with the ‘U-S-A’ chants until the very end. That’s what kept me going, and that’s what got me this win tonight.”
It was a brilliant performance from Shelton, who beat a top-3 player for the first time in his career. He made just 35 unforced errors and hit 34 winners to reach the third grand slam semifinal of his career.
He will now face compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the semifinal, meaning an American will be in the final of the men’s US Open this year.
Not since Andy Roddick in 2003 has an American man won a major title. This might be the country’s best chance for quite some time, given that the likes of Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are not in the picture.
For Alcaraz, the loss brings an end to his title defense this year after a difficult season plagued by injury. The Spaniard missed both Wimbledon and the French Open but did win the Australian Open title at the start of 2026 – his seventh major trophy.
The world No. 3 was typically gracious in defeat, smiling and waving to the crowd as he walked off the court, acknowledging the fans who had stayed until the bitter end.
“It was close. I’m just a bit disappointed by not getting the win at the end,” he told reporters.
“I’m just happy, I’m just proud of myself. After the first set, physically I was really tired, but I found a way to push myself up and physically give extra. In the fifth, I just started to feel better and better.
“But you know, I was playing against someone that is a beast. You know, Shelton is an unbelievable player, powerful. He just manages to play really, really well in every situation. So credit to him.
“But you know, I just leave the court happy. I leave the court with a smile, healthy, and this is what I need.”
The-CNN-Wire
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