Ben Shelton Outlasts Carlos Alcaraz in 3:34 a.m. US Open Thriller
NEW YORK — Ben Shelton was still standing when the clock passed 3 a.m. Tuesday morning.
So was Carlos Alcaraz.
Eventually, only one of them was left standing.
Shelton stunned the second-seeded Alcaraz in a five-set US Open quarterfinal thriller, winning 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 to reach the semifinals in one of the wildest matches of the tournament. The match ended at approximately 3:34 a.m. ET, making it the latest finish in US Open history.
The American had to withstand just about everything Alcaraz could throw at him.
Alcaraz took the opening set in a tiebreak, putting Shelton behind early in front of a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. But Shelton responded emphatically, using his massive serve and aggressive forehand to take control of the second and third sets.
He won the second 6-1 before taking the third 6-3, putting himself one set away from the biggest victory of his career.
Alcaraz, as he has done so many times before, refused to go quietly.
The Spaniard stormed through the fourth set 6-1, forcing a deciding fifth set and turning the match into a test of who could survive the marathon.
Neither player wanted to give an inch.
Shelton fought off break opportunities, Alcaraz answered with huge points of his own, and the fifth set eventually had to be decided by a tiebreak.
That was where Shelton finally delivered the knockout blow.
The American won the deciding breaker 10-7, collapsing to the court after sealing the victory.
For Shelton, it was more than another trip to the semifinals.
It was his first career victory over Alcaraz and his first win over a top-three opponent. He also became the latest American to reach the semifinals, setting up an all-American showdown with Frances Tiafoe.
For Alcaraz, the loss ends his title defense and his latest run at another Grand Slam trophy.
For everyone who stayed awake, it was worth it.
The match began Tuesday night.
Shelton finished the job Wednesday morning.
At 3:34 a.m., with New York finally running out of energy, the American was still swinging.
