Ben Shelton has eliminated Carlos Alcaraz from the US Open, securing a dramatic five-set victory in a match that concluded at 3:34 a.m. local time. The quarterfinal contest, lasting four hours and 28 minutes, is the latest finish in the tournament's history. The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd remained engaged late into the night for the unpredictable match, which began around 11 p.m. following earlier delays.
Shelton, the eighth seed, earned the most significant win of his career with a 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (10-7) triumph. He had previously struggled against top-three ranked players, losing all 17 prior attempts, and had lost his previous three matches against Alcaraz. The victory also strengthens the possibility of an American man winning the US Open singles title for the first time in 23 years.
Shelton and Frances Tiafoe will face each other in the semifinals, guaranteeing an American finalist in New York. Alcaraz, who was competing in his first tournament since recovering from a wrist injury, had reached the quarterfinals after defeating Tommy Paul in straight sets. Despite his recent injury layoff, Alcaraz exceeded expectations, but the demanding nature of the high-octane match appeared to impact his match fitness.
Alcaraz, a two-time US Open champion, forced a deciding set and pushed the contest to a tense 10-point tiebreak, providing a fitting conclusion to the epic encounter. The crowd offered Shelton a standing ovation at the match's conclusion.