At 03:33 local time in New York City, Ben Shelton clinched the victory of a lifetime.
The eighth seed and highest-ranked U.S. men’s singles tennis player is through to the semi-finals of the 2026 US Open, defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).
A quarter-final showdown that began on Tuesday (8 September) and finished in the early hours of Wednesday, it is the latest match finish in the history of the Grand Slam tournament.
“It’s always about the people in the crowd,” Shelton said on-court after a first career win against a top-three player, and a maiden triumph against the seven-time major champion.
“Whether it’s my coaches and my team over there, all my family and friends over here, or the city of New York that showed up tonight till 03:00 with the USA chants until the very end. That’s what kept me going and got me this win tonight.”
After four hours and 28 minutes, Shelton’s first victory in four attempts against the Spaniard sets up an all-USA semi-final showdown with 11th seed Frances Tiafoe in the semis.
It is the third time that this has happened this century, and the first men’s singles final with two U.S. players since 2024. Tiafoe also made it to the final four through a super tiebreak, coming from two sets down to defeat unseeded compatriot Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) earlier on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
US Open 2026 – Ben Shelton roars to famous victory at Flushing Meadows
There was no more characteristic manner for Shelton, 23, to clinch the ultimate triumph of his career. A 146mph (235 km/h) ace out wide and a cheeky grin towards his box, among them his girlfriend, Olympic football gold medallist Trinity Rodman.
Shelton, who is only 157 days younger than his age counterpart, becomes the second man to beat Alcaraz in five sets, joining Matteo Berrettini from his accomplishment at the 2022 Australian Open.
This is the third time that the former U.S. collegiate player has reached a major semi-final and his second appearance at this stage at Flushing Meadows. In 2023, only the eventual record-equalling champion Novak Djokovic denied him a maiden final.
Shelton also had a word for his sister, Emma, who he previously shouted out at Wimbledon, in a plea for her employers to give her more time off to stay and watch his next match.
“I’m just hoping that my best friend and my sister over there don’t have to be at work at 06:00 in three hours,” he quipped. “It’d be huge from their employers to let them have the day off today.”
Alcaraz, now the world number three and playing just his second five-set match of the year, was a super tiebreak away from continuing his stunning title defence after a four-month injury layoff. But it is the end of the road for the Olympic silver medallist, his earliest Grand Slam exit since January 2025, who drops 1,600 ranking points in a dent to his hope of breaking back into the top two.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/us-open-2026-ben-shelton-carlos-alcaraz-quarter-final-results
