Ben Shelton has produced the biggest victory of his career at the US Open, defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic five-set quarter-final that ended at 3:34 a.m. local time in New York.
The eighth-seeded American prevailed 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) after four hours and 28 minutes of high-intensity tennis on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The victory sent Shelton into his third Grand Slam semi-final and, more significantly, guaranteed that an American man will reach the US Open final for the first time in 23 years.
Shelton will face compatriot Frances Tiafoe in Friday’s semi-final after Tiafoe completed a remarkable comeback against fellow American Alex Michelsen.
The result gives American tennis a major boost, with the country still searching for its first men’s singles champion at the US Open since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003.
Shelton entered the quarter-final with a difficult record against the sport’s elite, having lost all 17 of his previous meetings with top-three opponents. He had also failed to defeat Alcaraz in their three previous encounters.
But the 23-year-old produced a performance of remarkable resilience, repeatedly responding whenever momentum appeared to be shifting towards the Spaniard.
Alcaraz took the opening set on a tie-break, but Shelton immediately seized control in the second, winning nine consecutive games as the Spaniard’s level dipped.
The two-time US Open champion fought back strongly in the fourth set, despite appearing to struggle physically during the contest, forcing the match into a deciding set.
Neither player was able to secure a decisive break in the fifth, sending the contest into a 10-point match tie-break.
Shelton moved ahead early before Alcaraz fought back to lead 5-3. The American then produced his strongest finish of the night, winning five of the next six points before sealing the biggest win of his career with an ace.
“That was a war, an epic match, so physical,” Shelton said afterwards, describing the contest as the most enjoyable match of his career.
For Alcaraz, the defeat ends his title defence and brings a difficult return to Grand Slam competition to a close.
The world number three was playing only his fifth singles match since April after spending more than four months out with a wrist injury. Despite the loss, he had reached the quarter-finals after an impressive run that included a straight-sets victory over 20th seed Tommy Paul.
Alcaraz acknowledged the intensity of the battle but said he was proud of his performance and physical recovery.
“I’m just proud about myself, about how I fought. I leave the court with a smile, healthy, and this is what I needed,” he said.
The defeat also ends Alcaraz’s 18-match unbeaten run at Grand Slam tournaments and denies him another appearance in the US Open semi-finals.
Shelton, meanwhile, has now equalled his best Grand Slam performance and will attempt to reach his first major final when he faces Tiafoe.
His victory has also strengthened hopes of a long-awaited American breakthrough in New York, with the home crowd playing a major role in pushing him through the marathon encounter.
“The city of New York that showed up tonight until 3am, that’s what kept me going,” Shelton said.
With an American guaranteed a place in the final, Shelton now has the opportunity to take another major step towards ending his country’s long wait for a US Open men’s singles champion.
