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Shelton Stuns Alcaraz in US Open Quarter-Final, Sets Up All-American Semi-Final
Confirmed
In Short: Ben Shelton overcame a four-hour, 28-minute grueling match to defeat Carlos Alcaraz and advance to the US Open semi-finals.
In a match that lasted four hours and 28 minutes, Ben Shelton produced one of the biggest wins of his career by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic five-set quarter-final at the US Open, prevailing 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10/7).
The contest, which ended at 3:33 AM local time on Wednesday, became the latest-finishing match in US Open history, surpassing the previous record of 2:50 a.m., set exactly two years ago when Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in a five-set quarter-final, according to the ATP website.
Alcaraz, who was playing his first tournament after a four-month injury layoff, could not produce another late-night escape as Shelton held his nerve in the deciding Match Tie-break to complete a stunning upset and book his place in the semi-finals.
Shelton, who won his second ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal, has now reached the US Open semi-finals for the first time since 2023. He will face 11th seed Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals, leading Tiafoe 3-1 in their previous meetings.
Tiafoe, who came from two sets and a break down to beat fellow American Alex Michelsen in a thrilling comeback, is hoping to reach the final at Flushing Meadows for the first time, following semi-final defeats by Alcaraz in 2022 and Taylor Fritz in 2024.
What's still developing
- The Spaniard had dropped just one set on his way to the quarter-finals before Shelton brought his title defence to an end.
- The pair have met twice at the US Open, with Shelton winning their 2023 quarter-final before Tiafoe prevailed in the third round in 2024.
- Pegula claims a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Navarro in an all-American quarterfinal and will face Sabalenka on Thursday.
- Jessica Pegula has booked a third straight US Open face-off with Aryna Sabalenka, grinding out a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Emma Navarro to set up a semifinal clash with the two-time defending champion and the world’s top-ranked women’s player.
- Sabalenka beat Pegula in the 2024 final in Flushing Meadows and beat her again in the semis last year on the way to a second crown.