A Marathon Quarter-Final
Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set US Open quarter-final, winning 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10/7). The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes, setting a new record as the latest finishing in US Open history, surpassing the previous record from 2024 when Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in a five-set quarter-final.[S1]
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar praised Shelton's resilience and Alcaraz's fight. Tendulkar noted that every time it seemed one player had the match, the other fought back, and it came down to the final points. He also acknowledged Alcaraz's comeback from injury, making the loss even tougher.[S1]
Shelton's Rise and Alcaraz's Setback
The 23-year-old Shelton has been in strong form during the North American hard-court season, improving to a 13-2 record over this period. He also secured his second ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal and reached the US Open semi-finals for the first time since 2023.[S1]
Alcaraz was returning from a four-month injury absence and had dropped only one set en route to the quarter-finals before his title defence was ended by Shelton. His defeat concluded his pursuit of an eighth Grand Slam title and the chance to become the first man since Roger Federer to successfully defend the US Open title.[S1]
All-American Semi-Final Ahead
Shelton, whose overall 2026 season record is 38-13, will face 11th seed Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals. Both players are aiming for their first appearance in a Grand Slam final. Shelton currently leads Tiafoe 3-1 in their head-to-head meetings and has won their only previous US Open quarter-final encounter in 2023, while Tiafoe won their 2024 third-round match.[S1]
