Ben Shelton ended Carlos Alcaraz's reign as US Open champion after producing a stunning five-set victory over the second-seeded Spaniard in the early hours of Wednesday. Shelton defeated Alcaraz 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a marathon that lasted four hours and 28 minutes. The contest finished at 3:33 a.m., making it the latest-ending match in US Open history. Shelton's victory also ended Alcaraz's 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments and denied the defending champion another run at the title.
The match swung repeatedly between the two players before Shelton finally prevailed in the deciding-set tiebreak. Alcaraz took the opening set in a closely contested tiebreak, but Shelton responded emphatically in the second and third sets, winning them 6-1 and 6-3. The Spaniard then fought back to level the match by taking the fourth set 6-1, setting up a decisive fifth set that stretched deep into the New York night. Both players were visibly pushed by the physical demands of the contest, but neither was willing to give ground as the match approached its conclusion.
Shelton eventually gained the decisive advantage in the final tiebreak and moved within one point of victory at 9-7. He then produced a 146 mph ace, a serve that Alcaraz could not return despite his extraordinary movement and defensive ability. The American secured the next point to complete one of the biggest victories of his career. Speaking afterwards, Shelton summed up the physical and emotional intensity of the contest by saying, “I'm tired. It was a war.” He also paid tribute to Alcaraz, calling him one of the greatest champions in tennis and describing the match as the most enjoyable of his career.
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For Alcaraz, the defeat was particularly difficult because he had battled through exhaustion and repeatedly found ways to stay in contention. The Spaniard acknowledged that the match had been extremely close and said he was disappointed not to secure the victory after coming within reach of another US Open title. At the same time, he said he was proud of the way he fought until the end despite being physically tired. His loss brought an end to an 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and halted his attempt to successfully defend the championship he had won previously.
Shelton now advances to an all-American US Open semifinal against Frances Tiafoe, creating a major opportunity for American men's tennis. Tiafoe booked his place in the last four after completing an extraordinary comeback against Alex Michelsen on Tuesday. The No. 11 seed recovered from two sets down to defeat Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6). Tiafoe's victory secured his third US Open semifinal appearance and ensured that an American player would reach Sunday's men's final. The country is seeking its first men's Grand Slam singles champion since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003.
The extraordinary finishing time also added another late-night chapter to Alcaraz's history at Flushing Meadows. The Spaniard had previously featured in the tournament's former latest-ending match, when he defeated Jannik Sinner at 2:50 a.m. during the 2022 quarterfinals. That victory helped propel the then-19-year-old Alcaraz towards his first Grand Slam championship. Three years later, he again found himself fighting into the early morning, but this time the outcome was different. Shelton held his nerve through the final stages of a physically demanding battle, delivering the decisive ace and completing a victory that puts him one step away from a first US Open final.
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