Ben Shelton has stunned defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic five-set thriller that didn’t conclude until 3:30am, making it the first US Open match in history to finish after 3am.
The eighth seed battled on court for four-and-a-half hours before prevailing 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) over the world No.3. It is a milestone win for Shelton, who entered the clash having lost all of his previous 17 matches played against top three players on the Tour. This is the third time in his career he has reached a Grand Slam semi-final, after the 2023 US Open and last year’s Australian Open.
Shelton’s gut-busting triumph ends Alcaraz’s run of 18 consecutive wins at Grand Slam tournaments. The Spaniard was playing in his first tournament since April after being sidelined with a wrist injury. The defeat means it has now been 18 years since a man last won back-to-back titles, with Roger Federer being the last to do so.
“I’m just so grateful. So blessed, God bless me in so many ways, to be here in front of you guys tonight is an absolute honour,” Shelton said to the crowd during his on-court interview.
“Sharing the court with Carlos is an absolute honour, and cheers to everyone that I have out here.” He added.
Both players showed mighty resilience throughout the clash, especially in the deciding set where Shelton saved a break point that would have seen him go down 2-3. A few games later, Alcaraz saved three break points at 4-4 that would have resulted in his rival having the chance to serve out the match. In the end, a 10-point tiebreaker separated the two, with the home favourite closing it out with an ace.
“The city of New York, they showed up tonight until 3:00 a.m,” said Shelton.
“With the USA chants until the very end, that’s what kept me going, and that’s what got me this win tonight.”
An American player is guaranteed to be in Sunday’s final, with Shelton’s next clash being against Frances Tiafoe, who also came through a dramatic encounter. Tiafoe was down two sets to love before defeating Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(10-6). The win was a devastating blow for Michelsen, who served for the match in the third set and ended up leaving the court in tears after being consoled at the net by his compatriot.
“The moment is huge. Can’t downplay it at all,” Tiafoe said. “The way it happened, right? Two sets to love down, him serving for it, I’m down breaks early in the fifth. There were so many times where I was down. … It was definitely a Braveheart-type win. It ranks pretty high in probably all-time wins in a slam.”
Shelton and Tiafoe are both bidding to become the first American man to win the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003.
