American tennis star Ben Shelton stunned defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal thriller at the US Open, securing a historic late-night victory to reach the semifinals.
Ben Shelton Stuns Alcaraz in Record-Breaking Late-Night US Open Thriller
In one of the most unforgettable and dramatic matches in recent tennis history, American star Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling five-set quarterfinal clash at the US Open. Playing in front of an incredibly vocal and electric home crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Shelton secured a 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 victory to book his hard-earned spot in the tournament’s semifinals.
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A Match for the History Books
The gripping quarterfinal battle lasted a grueling four hours and 28 minutes, officially ending at exactly 3:33 AM local time on Wednesday morning. This remarkable timestamp makes it the latest-finishing match in the long history of the US Open, surpassing the previous late-night record set by Alcaraz himself against Jannik Sinner back in 2022. Thousands of dedicated fans stayed glued to their seats through the early hours, passionately chanting “USA! USA!” and cheering for the hometown hero as he fought fiercely against the world number two.
Momentum Swings and Physical Struggles
The epic contest was an incredible rollercoaster from the very first serve. Alcaraz edged out a tightly contested first set in a tiebreak, but Shelton quickly flipped the momentum. Relying on his booming serve and aggressive baseline play, the 23-year-old American completely dominated the second and third sets. Shelton reeled off an impressive nine straight games during this dominant stretch, putting the defending champion on the ropes.
Refusing to surrender his crown, Alcaraz brilliantly found another gear in the fourth set. He raced to a quick 6-1 win to force a deciding fifth set, but the immense physical toll of the marathon match soon became painfully obvious. The Spanish star, who was playing his first tournament after a four-month injury layoff, appeared to vomit into his towel before the final set began, highlighting the brutal, exhausting nature of the late-night contest.
The Decisive Final Tiebreak
Despite his clear physical struggles, Alcaraz fought bravely throughout the fifth set, eventually pushing the unforgettable match into a decisive 10-point tiebreak. The tension across Arthur Ashe Stadium was absolutely sky-high, but Shelton kept his absolute cool under immense pressure. The American powerfully sealed his career-defining upset with a massive 146 mph ace out wide, winning the tiebreak 10-7.
Shelton’s massive victory officially ends Alcaraz’s impressive 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and proudly sets up a highly anticipated all-American semifinal clash against Frances Tiafoe.