Ben Shelton ended Carlos Alcaraz’s defense of his U.S. Open men’s singles title after a grueling five-set match that extended into the early hours of Wednesday morning in New York. The contest, which lasted four hours and 28 minutes and concluded at 3:33 a.m. local time, marked the latest finish in U.S. Open history. Shelton secured the victory with a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) scoreline, capped by a 146 mph ace in the deciding-set tiebreak that Alcaraz was unable to return.
The match was delayed by a series of long contests earlier in the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium, pushing the start time past 11 p.m. Both players, who are 23 years old, battled intensely under the unusual conditions. Alcaraz, who was competing for the first time since April following a wrist injury, displayed resilience despite visible physical exhaustion, including moments where he was seen unwell off the court. He expressed disappointment at not defending his title but took pride in the fight he showed throughout the tournament.
Shelton, the American southpaw, maintained composure throughout the late-night match and will move on to face No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe in Friday’s semifinals. Tiafoe earned his spot by overcoming Alex Michelsen in a five-set thriller that featured a dramatic comeback. Michelsen, who was leading by two sets and a break, struggled under pressure, ultimately losing 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6). His defeat guaranteed an American presence in the men’s final and the prospect of the U.S. winning a men’s major title for the first time since Andy Roddick’s 2003 U.S. Open victory.
The late finish drew criticism from some within the tennis community, including former world No. 1 Martina Navratilova, who highlighted the impracticality of matches starting at such late hours during the same event. Despite this, both players praised the atmosphere and competition at the U.S. Open. Shelton described playing against Alcaraz as an honor and expressed excitement about his advancement, while Alcaraz acknowledged the challenge of competing at the highest level after a significant injury layoff.
The matchup between Shelton and Tiafoe is anticipated to showcase American talent at one of tennis’s marquee events, adding further excitement as the tournament moves toward its conclusion.