Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a grueling five-set match at the US Open on Wednesday, a victory that marks the most significant of his career. The quarterfinal contest, which concluded at 3:33 a.m. in New York, is now the latest-finishing match in the Grand Slam's history.
Shelton's 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) triumph over the seven-time major champion snapped Alcaraz's 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments. The American, who has guaranteed U.S. representation in the men's final, will face fellow American Francis Tiafoe in the semifinals on Friday.
"It’s always about the people in the crowd, whether it’s my coaches and my team over there, all my family and friends over here, or the city of New York," Shelton said during his on-court interview. "They showed up tonight till 3 a.m. with USA chats until the very end, that’s what kept me going, and that’s what got me this win tonight."
The 23-year-old Shelton, playing in his first-ever U.S. Open quarterfinal, drew energy from the home crowd throughout the match. His serve, a key weapon, was on display with seven aces and only two double faults. Alcaraz committed 53 unforced errors, a critical factor in the match's outcome.
This win is particularly notable as an American man has not won a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open. Shelton's previous record against Alcaraz was 0-3, with their last meeting at Roland Garros in 2025.