Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Ben Shelton Ends Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open Title Defence
Ben Shelton won a very long tennis match against Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz was the defending U.S. Open champion.
Shelton and Alcaraz each won two sets before playing a deciding fifth set.
Shelton won that final set in a tiebreak.
The match started late Tuesday night and finished at 3:33 a.m.
Wednesday.
It was the latest-ending match in U.S. Open history.
Shelton will next play fellow American Frances Tiafoe.
Their match gives American fans hope that a U.S. man could win a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2003.
Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarter-final at the U.S. Open.
Shelton won 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7).
The match began at 11:05 p.m. Tuesday and ended at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday, the latest finish in tournament history.
Shelton will play fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals.
The result increased American hopes of producing the first U.S. men’s Grand Slam champion since 2003.
- Who
- Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and will next face Frances Tiafoe.
- What
- Shelton won a five-set U.S. Open quarter-final and ended Alcaraz’s title defence.
- When
- The match began at 11:05 p.m. Tuesday and finished at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday.
- Where
- The match was played at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
- Why
- Shelton advanced by winning the deciding-set tiebreak, strengthening American hopes of a men’s Grand Slam champion.
- Winner
- Ben Shelton
- Defeated player
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Score
- 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7)
- Next opponent
- Frances Tiafoe
- Match duration timing
- Started at 11:05 p.m. Tuesday and ended at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday
- Tournament record
- Latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history
- American milestone
- The United States has not had a men’s Grand Slam champion since 2003