Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open title defense has come to a dramatic end after Ben Shelton produced the biggest win of his career in a five-set thriller that stretched deep into the New York night.
The American eighth seed defeated the defending champion 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) in a marathon quarterfinal that lasted four hours and 28 minutes. The match finally ended at 3:33 a.m., making it the latest-finishing match in US Open history.
For Shelton, the victory was much more than a place in the last four. It was a statement win against one of the biggest names in modern tennis and his first victory over a player ranked inside the ATP top three.
The 23-year-old American now has another huge challenge waiting for him: fellow American Frances Tiafoe.
Shelton survives an incredible five-set battle
The match initially looked like it could go Alcaraz’s way.
The Spaniard took the opening set in a tight tiebreak, but Shelton immediately changed the momentum. The American won the second set 6-1 and followed it with another impressive 6-3 set to move within one set of victory.
Alcaraz, however, showed the fighting spirit that has become one of his trademarks.
The defending champion responded by taking the fourth set 6-1, forcing a deciding set and sending the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd into another round of late-night drama.
Neither player was willing to give an inch in the fifth.
The set went all the way to a 10-point tiebreak, where Shelton finally held his nerve. He sealed the biggest victory of his career with a 146 mph ace, sending the New York crowd into a frenzy.
The victory also ended Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak.
Alcaraz’s comeback ends in heartbreak
This was always going to be an unusual US Open campaign for Alcaraz.
The Spaniard had returned to competitive tennis after spending around four and a half months away because of a right wrist injury. Despite the lengthy absence, he arrived in New York looking sharp and had successfully navigated his opening rounds.
Against Shelton, though, the physical demands eventually became obvious.
Alcaraz appeared to struggle during parts of the match and even vomited during a changeover before the final set. Yet somehow, he still managed to recover and take the match all the way to the deciding tiebreak.
That made the defeat particularly painful, but Alcaraz himself refused to make excuses.
After the match, he praised Shelton and described the American as an exceptional player. He also said he was proud of the way he fought and was happy to leave the court healthy after such a demanding comeback tournament.
In other words, Alcaraz may have lost the match, but his return to the court still provided plenty of reasons for optimism.
Why Shelton’s victory is so important
Shelton’s biggest weapons were on full display.
His powerful left-handed serve repeatedly put Alcaraz under pressure, particularly when the most important points arrived. His aggressive groundstrokes and willingness to attack also prevented Alcaraz from comfortably settling into his usual rhythm.
The American had already reached the US Open semifinals in 2023, but this victory feels different.
He has now defeated the defending champion in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament and earned another opportunity to reach a Grand Slam final.
The US Open itself described the win as Shelton’s biggest triumph, noting that it was his first victory over a top-three opponent.
And there was no shortage of emotion afterward.
Shelton credited the crowd, his family, friends and support team for helping him survive the exhausting battle. He called it an “epic” and described it as the most enjoyable match of his career.
Shelton vs Tiafoe: America guaranteed a finalist
Shelton’s reward is another all-American blockbuster.
He will face Frances Tiafoe in the semifinal after Tiafoe defeated Alex Michelsen in another five-set thriller.
Tiafoe fought back from two sets down to beat Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) and book his place in the final four.
That means one American man is guaranteed to reach the US Open final.
It is a significant moment for American men’s tennis because the country has been waiting for another men’s Grand Slam singles champion since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003.
Now, either Shelton or Tiafoe has a chance to take one more step toward ending that long wait.
Sabalenka keeps her three-peat dream alive
The men’s quarterfinal was not the only dramatic match in New York.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also survived a major scare to reach the women’s semifinals.
The defending champion defeated reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) in another tense contest.
Sabalenka was in serious trouble in the deciding set, falling 4-2 behind, but she recovered when the pressure was at its highest. She eventually won the final-set tiebreak 10-7.
The victory keeps Sabalenka’s dream of winning three consecutive US Open titles alive.
She is now just two victories away from joining an elite group of players who have achieved that feat.
Her semifinal opponent is Jessica Pegula, setting up another major showdown in the women’s draw.
A night the US Open will remember
The 2026 US Open has already produced some memorable moments, but Shelton’s victory over Alcaraz will be particularly difficult to top.
A defending champion, a five-set battle, a deciding tiebreak, a 146 mph match-point ace and a finish at 3:33 in the morning — this match had practically everything.
For Alcaraz, the title defense is over.
For Shelton, the biggest opportunity of his career has just arrived.
And for American tennis fans, Friday’s semifinal against Tiafoe could be much more than another Grand Slam match. It could be the beginning of a story they have been waiting to see for more than two decades.
