Ben Shelton has cemented his status as a major contender at his home Grand Slam, defeating two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz in a grueling US Open quarterfinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match, which concluded early Wednesday morning, lasted four hours and 28 minutes, ending in a 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-6) victory for the American.
The eighth-seeded Shelton will now advance to the semifinals to face fellow American Frances Tiafoe. This matchup guarantees an American presence in the final for the first time since 2003, a prospect that has energized the home crowd.
Reflecting on the atmosphere, the 23-year-old Shelton praised the New York spectators who remained in the stands until 3 a.m. to support him. “Whether it’s my coaches and my team there, all my family and friends here, or the city of New York that showed up tonight till 3am with the USA chants until the very end, that’s what kept me going,” he said. He further described the venue as the greatest stadium in the world, calling the experience of playing there an absolute honor.
The contest saw momentum shift repeatedly between the two 23-year-old talents. After Alcaraz, the third seed, took the opening set, Shelton dominated the second and third sets by forcing the seven-time Grand Slam winner into numerous unforced errors. Alcaraz, competing in his first major tournament after a four-month injury layoff, managed to force a deciding fifth set by winning the fourth.
Physical exhaustion was evident during the final set, with the defending champion appearing to struggle, at one point even vomiting into his towel during a break. Despite these visible signs of fatigue, Alcaraz maintained his competitive spirit until the final tie-break, though he ultimately could not overcome Shelton’s resolve.
Following the match, the two players shared a long embrace at the net, exchanging words of mutual respect. Shelton was effusive in his praise for his opponent, noting that sharing the court with Alcaraz is a privilege. “That was a war, epic match, so physical,” Shelton remarked. “Carlos is one of the greatest champions in our sport already, at 23 years old. It’s always fun being on the court against him. It’s ridiculous some of the stuff he comes up with sometimes – the most enjoyable match that I’ve had in my career, for sure.”
This victory marks a significant milestone for Shelton, who has emerged as the highest-seeded American man in the tournament. As he looks ahead to his semifinal match, the momentum from this late-night triumph at the Arthur Ashe Stadium remains a defining moment in his professional career. The report also notes that in a battle of two 23-year-old talents, Alcaraz came back to win the fourth set and take the match to the deciding fifth set but struggled to sustain his comeback.
