Ben Shelton produced the biggest win of his young career in the early hours of Wednesday morning, ending Carlos Alcaraz's reign as US Open champion with a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) victory in the latest-finishing match in tournament history. The five-set marathon at Arthur Ashe Stadium concluded at 3:33 a.m. ET, when the American's 146 mph serve proved unreturnable, booking an all-American semifinal showdown against Frances Tiafoe.
The result snapped Alcaraz's 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and handed Shelton his first career win over a top-five seed at a major. It also ensured an American will contest Sunday's final, putting U.S. tennis one step closer to its first men's major title since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003.
How Shelton Dethroned the Defending Champion
From the moment the match began just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, the night had the feel of a heavyweight fight. Alcaraz, competing in his first tournament since April after a right wrist injury kept him out for 139 days, struck first by edging the opening set in a tiebreak. But Shelton, feeding off a roaring home crowd, responded by winning nine consecutive games from early in the second set until he built a 3-0 lead in the third.
Alcaraz refused to fold. Battling fatigue — and vomiting before the start of the final set — the 23-year-old Spaniard dragged the contest into a deciding-set tiebreak, then ripped off four straight points to lead 5-3. Shelton answered with the thunderous serve that has become his trademark, firing deliveries that topped 140 mph before closing the match with a 146 mph ace his opponent could not get back.
"It's incredible," Shelton said afterward. "I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world ... that this is the greatest stadium 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."
The numbers reflected a player who stayed aggressive despite the stakes. Shelton's serve touched 234 kilometers per hour, while Alcaraz's unforced error count climbed to 35 and he converted just one of six break-point chances. The Spaniard, whose coach Samuel López could be heard urging him to stay in the fight, won only 45 percent of points on his second serve.
A Record-Breaking Night That Ended at 3:33 a.m.
The 4-hour, 28-minute battle shattered the previous mark for the latest finish in US Open history — a record that had also belonged to Alcaraz. In 2022, he outlasted Jannik Sinner in a quarterfinal that ended at 2:50 a.m. en route to his first Grand Slam title at age 19. This time, thousands of fans stayed in their seats until the very end, serenading Shelton with chants of "USA! USA!" that echoed through the sport's largest stadium.
The marathon unfolded on a chaotic day in which three of the four singles quarterfinals went to deciding match tiebreakers. Earlier on Tuesday, Aryna Sabalenka edged Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova to keep alive her bid for a third consecutive US Open title, setting the tone for a tournament increasingly defined by late-night drama.
Why Shelton's Breakthrough Reshapes the US Open Picture
Beyond the headline upset, the victory carries layers of significance. It was Shelton's first win over Alcaraz in three career meetings and his first victory over a top-five seed at a Grand Slam. The American, who reached his first major semifinal at the 2023 US Open and repeated the feat at the 2025 Australian Open, now has a third trip to the final four — and this time he arrives as the man who toppled the reigning champion.
For Alcaraz, the defeat ended an 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and dropped him to 15-2 in five-set matches. It also denied the Spaniard a chance to defend the title he won a year ago and to add to the seventh major he captured at the Australian Open to open 2026, just before the wrist injury that derailed his season.
For American tennis, the stakes are historic. Shelton's victory guarantees a U.S. representative in Sunday's final, moving the home nation one step closer to its first men's Grand Slam title since Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003 — a wait of more than two decades that has weighed heavily on the sport in the United States.
An All-American Semifinal Awaits
Shelton's reward is a Friday semifinal against No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe, a fellow American and close friend. Tiafoe reached his third US Open semifinal in dramatic fashion, rallying from two sets down to beat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(10-6) on Tuesday.
The matchup guarantees a home favorite in the final and ensures the Flushing Meadows crowd will have an American to cheer through the weekend. For Shelton, whose girlfriend, soccer star Trinity Rodman, was among those celebrating in his box, the moment represents the culmination of a steady climb up the men's game.
What Comes Next for Shelton and Alcaraz
Shelton will carry momentum and a decisive home-court edge into the Tiafoe clash. A win would send him to his first Grand Slam final, one step from becoming the first American man to claim a major since 2003. His serve — the weapon that carried him past Alcaraz — will be the key against an opponent who has shown he can never be counted out.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, will turn his attention to full recovery from the wrist injury that sidelined him for more than four months. Despite the loss, his run to the quarterfinals in his first event back offered a reminder of his resilience. "It has been an honor to share the court with Carlos," Shelton said, a nod to the mutual respect that lingered even after a bruising, record-setting battle.
Key Takeaways
- Ben Shelton beat Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) in the US Open quarterfinals.
- The match ended at 3:33 a.m. ET, the latest finish in US Open history.
- It was Shelton's first win over Alcaraz and his first victory over a top-five seed at a Grand Slam.
- Shelton faces Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semifinal on Friday.
- An American man is guaranteed a place in Sunday's final as the U.S. chases its first men's major title since 2003.
