Ben Shelton secured the most significant triumph of his career on the night of the US Open by toppling defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a marathon five‑set battle that stretched well into the early hours of the morning in New York. The American edged the Spaniard 6‑7 (5‑7), 6‑1, 6‑3, 1‑6, 7‑6 (10‑7) after an exhausting 4 hours and 28 minutes of play, delivering a dramatic finish at 3:33 a.m., the latest conclusion ever recorded for a match at the tournament. This victory marked Shelton’s inaugural win against a player who was ranked inside the top three at the time, improving a 0‑17 record he carried into the contest against such elite opposition.
With this result, Shelton advances to the semi‑finals where he will meet fellow American Frances Tiafoe, who earned his spot after a dramatic five‑set comeback over Alex Michelsen earlier in the evening. Speaking from the court, Shelton credited the energy of the crowd for his perseverance: “It’s always about the people watching – my coaches, my team, my family, and everyone in New York who stayed up until 3 a.m. chanting for the USA. That’s what pushed me through and gave me this win.” He went on to praise the venue, saying, “Arthur Ashe Stadium is the greatest sports arena in the world.
I just hope my best friend and sister don’t have to be at work at 6 a.m.” Shelton added, “I feel incredibly grateful and blessed to be out here, sharing the court with Carlos is an absolute honour.” The win guarantees that an American will be represented in the men’s final on Sunday, a milestone not achieved since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003. It also signaled the end of Alcaraz’s courageous comeback after a four‑month hiatus caused by a wrist injury that had initially cast doubt on his participation in New York. The seven‑time major champion, playing his first event since April, appeared visibly ill before the final set, even vomiting, yet he fought on and forced a decisive 10‑point tie‑break.
Alcaraz reflected on his performance: “Before the tournament I said my goal was simply to compete and stay healthy. It was a close match, very close. I’m a little disappointed not to finish with the win, but I’m proud of how I fought.
After the third set I was exhausted, but I found a way to push myself physically. In the fifth set I started feeling better and better. He’s a beast – an unbelievable, powerful player who handled every situation brilliantly. I leave the court happy, with a smile, healthy, and that’s what I needed.” Shelton’s path to this semi‑final marks his third appearance at that stage of a Grand Slam, having previously reached the US Open semi‑finals in 2023 and the Australian Open semi‑finals in 2025.
After dropping the opening tie‑break, the 23‑year‑old surged ahead with nine straight games, dominating the second and third sets. Alcaraz rallied to force a fifth‑set tie‑break, where he surged to a 5‑3 lead before Shelton turned the tide.
In classic Shelton fashion, he capped the final point with a blistering 146 mph serve that Alcaraz could not return, eliciting a roar from the New York crowd. Alcaraz later recalled a similar pressure situation in Paris, noting the mental and physical strain of facing a powerful serve in crucial moments and emphasizing how the serve can become a decisive weapon. On the other side of the draw, Frances Tiafoe staged his own comeback, overturning a two‑set deficit and a 0‑3 hole in the fifth set to defeat compatriot Alex Michelsen 5‑7, 3‑6, 7‑5, 6‑3, 7‑6 (10‑6).
The 11th seed, who had seemed to lose the spark of his early tournament run, found momentum in the third set and sealed it with a forehand winner that sent the stadium into a frenzy. Michelsen, who had flown under the radar but earned respect with a 21‑ace display, received a brief but heartfelt embrace from Tiafoe after the match. Tiafoe described his mindset during the turning point: “I hoped he’d tighten up.
He gave me a couple of double faults, and then I slowly found my rhythm, slipped out of the third set and kept improving.” He praised his opponent, stating, “He’s a hell of a player and should have easily won today. Shout out to Alex Michelsen.” Tiafoe’s victory places him alongside Andre Agassi as the only American men to reach three US Open semi‑finals in this century, and it propels him back into the top ten of the ATP rankings for the first time in three years. He joked after his win, “Everyone was asleep in the first few hours and I was asleep with you all,” before thanking the crowd for their relentless support. Laura Robson of Sky Sports commented on the emotional intensity of the Michelsen‑Tiafoe encounter, noting the heartbreak for the young American and the resilience shown by Tiafoe in turning the match around.
The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the Laver Cup will also be shown later in September from The O2 in London.