Ben Shelton Ends Carlos Alcaraz's Reign in Record-Late US Open Quarterfinal

Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a match that ended at 3:33 a.m. ET.

Ben Shelton advanced to the US Open semifinals by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a match that concluded at 3:33 a.m. ET Wednesday. According to ESPN, the contest lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes, marking the latest finish in the tournament's history. The loss snapped an 18-match Grand Slam winning streak for Alcaraz, who entered the tiebreaker of the fifth set leading 5-3 before Shelton secured the win with a 146 mph serve.

Shelton, a former University of Florida national champion, utilized serves exceeding 140 mph to overcome Alcaraz, who is now 15-2 in career five-set matches. During the second and third sets, Shelton won nine consecutive games to take a 3-0 lead in the third. Alcaraz, playing his first tournament since a right wrist injury in April, reportedly vomited before the fifth set began but managed to force a final-set tiebreaker. Shelton is the first American to defeat a defending US Open champion in five sets since Pete Sampras beat Mats Wilander in 1989.

On Friday, Shelton will face No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe, who reached the semifinals by defeating Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6). This matchup marks the first time in the Open era that two Black American men will meet in a major semifinal or later. The winner will become the first Black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, guaranteeing a U.S. representative in Sunday's championship match.