Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a four-hour, 28-minute quarterfinal on September 9, 2026. The match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center ended at 3:33 a.m. EDT, setting a record as the latest finish in U.S. Open history.
How Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz Made U.S. Open History
The quarterfinal duel between American eighth seed Ben Shelton and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz pushed past previous tournament scheduling limits when it concluded at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday morning. The previous late-night record belonged to Alcaraz’s 2022 quarterfinal victory over Jannik Sinner, which wrapped up at 2:50 a.m. Thousands of fans remained in Arthur Ashe Stadium past the four-hour mark, chanting for the home player alongside traditional national cheers.
The contest began late due to a backlog of lengthy matches on the stadium court, with the players stepping out past 11 p.m. Former world number one Martina Navratilova voiced sharp criticism on social media regarding the scheduling strain, posting, Something has got to give… this is not OK and it is not normal… no other sport might start at 11AM or 11PM. In the same event.
“It’s incredible,” Shelton said. “I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world, I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world. I’m just hoping that my best friend and my sister over there don’t have to be at work at 6 a.m. in three hours.”
Ben Shelton, via NBC News and CBS News
Turning Points Across a Five-Set Marathon
Alcaraz entered the quarterfinal carrying a 13-0 Grand Slam record against American men and an 18-match winning streak across major tournaments. The 23-year-old Spaniard claimed a tight opening set in a tiebreak after both players traded heavy baseline blows. However, unforced errors mounted for Alcaraz, who was competing in his first tournament since April following a wrist injury.
Shelton seized momentum by capturing nine consecutive games bridging the second and third sets, dominating the second frame 6-1 and opening a 3-0 lead in the third. Alcaraz visibly struggled with exhaustion and illness, vomiting into a towel during the changeover before the deciding set. Despite physical distress, Alcaraz forced a fifth set by surging through the fourth 6-1.
In the deciding tiebreak, Alcaraz recovered from an early deficit to lead 5-3. Shelton responded behind powerful serving, including a 146 mph missile during the exchange, before closing out the match 10-7 in the super tiebreak. Shelton finished the contest with a heavy serve that Alcaraz could not return, ending the defending champion’s title defense after four hours and 28 minutes.
Semifinal Outlook and American Title Hopes
With the victory, Shelton advances to face Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals on Friday. Tiafoe secured his own spot in the final four after surviving a five-set thriller against Alex Michelsen, which also required a deciding tiebreak.
The semifinal matchup guarantees an American representative in the men’s singles final, keeping alive hopes for the first home-country major champion since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy at the 2003 tournament. With Alcaraz eliminated, Alexander Zverev enters the remaining rounds as the top seed following his 2026 French Open title run.
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