Ben Shelton defeats Carlos Alcaraz in five-set US Open quarter-final

Ben Shelton secured a dramatic 6‑7(5), 6‑1, 6‑3, 1‑6, 7‑6(7) victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a quarter‑final that ran until 3:30 a.m. on the 10th day of play in New York. The match, played at the U.S. Open, became one of the longest and most unpredictable encounters of the tournament, as the eighth‑seeded Shelton battled the second‑seeded Alcaraz through a five‑set thriller that ended in the early morning hours.

Alcaraz began the match with intense focus, but his momentum faltered as he lost nine straight games, leaving him with little to play for. Despite this, he managed to win the second set 6‑1 and the third 6‑3 before Shelton rallied, taking the fourth set 6‑1. The final set saw both players trading breaks, culminating in a tense tiebreak that Shelton won 7‑5, sealing his triumph. The extended play underscored Shelton’s resilience and marked a significant upset against the reigning champion.

Shelton’s win advances him into the tournament’s semifinals, while Alcaraz’s unexpected collapse highlights the physical and mental demands of the Open’s later stages. The match’s late finish and dramatic swings will likely be remembered as a standout moment of the event.