Shelton shocks Alcaraz in late-night US Open show

Ben Shelton ended Carlos Alcaraz’s title reign in the latest-finishing match in US Open history, pulling out a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) triumph in a phenomenal game that finished at 3:33 a.m. local time.

The Spaniard’s 18-game winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments ended in a game that began just after 11 p.m. and lasted almost 4 and a half hours.

THE MOMENT BEN SHELTON BEAT CARLOS ALCARAZ IN THE LATEST FINISHING MATCH IN US OPEN HISTORY.

3:33 in the morning.

But when you play the sport like that, you lose all sense of time.

Ben brought back his phone celebration 📞

More on this topic:

Djokovic says Sinner and Alcaraz are playing ‘close to perfection’

It’s Big Ben time. 🇺🇸🥹 pic.twitter.com/GDjTROpH5f

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 9, 2026

Thousands of supporters watched the whole match, and Ben benefited from a home-crowd boost even vs. the popular Carlos, with fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium chanting his name along with “USA! USA!”

“I still can’t believe it,” the American shared. “I always claim that New York is the greatest sports city in the world; I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world. I only hope that my best friend and my sister in the stands don’t have to go to work in 2 hours.”

Shelton will face his compatriot Frances Tiafoe, who kept coming back until he had reached his 3^rd US Open ½ final, defeating Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6).