Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic five-set US Open quarterfinal, winning 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) to reach the men's singles semifinals in New York.
The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes and finished at 3:33 a.m. on Wednesday, September 9, making it the latest finish in US Open history. Shelton will now face Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semifinal, guaranteeing that a US player will compete for the men's title.
It is a major result for Shelton and a significant upset for the tournament. Alcaraz arrived as the reigning champion and had never previously lost to an American man at a Grand Slam. Shelton survived a fourth-set surge, held his nerve in the deciding-set tiebreak and closed the match in front of a crowd that stayed at Arthur Ashe Stadium deep into the morning.
Shelton vs Alcaraz score
Ben Shelton beat Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7).
Alcaraz took the opening set in a tiebreak, but Shelton responded immediately. The American dominated the second set 6-1 and moved ahead by winning the third 6-3. Alcaraz then reversed the momentum with a 6-1 fourth set, forcing a decider.
Neither player could create decisive separation in the fifth, so the quarterfinal went to a 10-point match tiebreak at 6-6. Shelton won it 10-7, completing the biggest victory of his run and ending Alcaraz's title defence.
The final-set format matters because it differs from the conventional first-to-seven tiebreak used earlier in a match. At 6-6 in a Grand Slam deciding set, the players contest a first-to-10 tiebreak and must win by two points. MatchUpWorld's US Open final-set tiebreak explainer covers the rule in detail.
Why the match finished so late
The quarterfinal began at 11:05 p.m. local time after earlier matches extended the night-session schedule. With five sets and several momentum changes, it continued for four hours and 28 minutes before ending at 3:33 a.m.
That finish passed the tournament's previous record for the latest completed match. It also renewed the wider debate around late tennis scheduling: players must complete media, treatment and travel back from the stadium after the final point, while spectators face limited transport options in the early morning.
The official start time for Shelton's semifinal will therefore be important. Although both semifinalists played demanding five-set quarterfinals, recovery is not only about time on court. Sleep disruption, hydration, treatment and the turnaround between sessions can all affect preparation.
How Shelton changed the match
Losing the first set after a tiebreak could have allowed Alcaraz to take control. Instead, Shelton increased the pressure behind his left-handed serve and played more assertively on the first attacking ball. The 6-1 second set changed the rhythm and prevented the defending champion from settling into a comfortable lead.
Shelton then carried that level into the third set. His power is the most obvious part of his game, but the quarterfinal also required patience. Alcaraz is one of the tour's best defenders and can turn a neutral rally into an attack with little warning. Shelton had to choose when to accelerate instead of trying to end every exchange immediately.
Alcaraz's fourth-set response showed why the match remained dangerous. He cleaned up his play, applied sustained return pressure and raced through the set 6-1. Reuters also reported that he was sick during a changeover, but he recovered sufficiently to force a close deciding set. That context is relevant without becoming an excuse: Shelton still had to beat the defending champion across five sets and a match tiebreak.
In the decider, the American avoided letting the fourth-set collapse define the outcome. He protected his serve, stayed connected on the scoreboard and produced the more effective closing sequence in the tiebreak.
What the defeat means for Alcaraz
Alcaraz entered the match with a 13-0 record against American men at Grand Slam tournaments. That unbeaten run is now over, along with his attempt to defend the US Open title.
The loss also ended a comeback tournament after he had spent nearly five months away with a wrist injury. Reaching the quarterfinal on his return to major competition was evidence that he could immediately challenge deep into the draw, but the Shelton match exposed the fine margins that decide the final rounds.
His forehand errors gave Shelton openings, particularly during the middle part of the contest. Yet Alcaraz's ability to recover and force a fifth set means the result should not be read as a simple collapse. It was a match in which both players controlled long stretches, and Shelton executed better at the end.
An all-American semifinal against Frances Tiafoe
Shelton will play Frances Tiafoe for a place in the final. Tiafoe reached the last four after recovering from two sets and a break down to defeat Alex Michelsen in another five-set quarterfinal. Read our full Tiafoe comeback match report for the score and turning points.
The matchup guarantees an American men's finalist at the US Open. It does not guarantee an American champion, because the winner must still defeat the finalist from the other half of the draw.
The broader history adds pressure. Andy Roddick, who won the 2003 US Open, remains the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title. Shelton and Tiafoe are now competing for the chance to end that 23-year drought.
They also know each other's games well. Shelton's left-handed serve and explosive first strike can shorten points, while Tiafoe uses speed, variety and crowd energy to disrupt an opponent's rhythm. Return position, second-serve points and physical recovery after their quarterfinals will be central to the semifinal.
What to watch next
The first update to check is the official semifinal schedule. Fans should rely on the tournament order of play rather than an earlier social-media post, because session times and court order can change. The US Open 2026 schedule and viewing guide has the key dates and broadcast information.
On court, watch how often Shelton lands his first serve and whether he can attack Tiafoe's second serve without overplaying. Tiafoe will try to extend rallies, make Shelton hit extra balls and use changes of pace to prevent the younger American from establishing a predictable rhythm.
Whatever happens in the semifinal, Shelton's win over Alcaraz is already one of the defining matches of the 2026 tournament: five sets, a record-late finish, the defeat of the defending champion and a guaranteed American finalist in New York.
Sources: Reuters report on Shelton's five-set victory and the official US Open website.
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