In a historic quarterfinal showdown at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Carlos Alcaraz suffered a dramatic defeat to American star Ben Shelton in the latest-finishing match in US Open history. Playing under floodlights in New York City, Shelton clinched the grueling four-hour-and-28-minute battle at 3:33 a.m. local time, advancing to the tournament semifinals with a 4:28-hour victory that carried a physical toll on both competitors.
A Historic Late-Night Battle in New York
The quarterfinal clash began at 23:05 local time, drawing nearly 24,000 spectators who filled the stands at the Arthur Ashe Stadium despite the late hour. According to match reports, the encounter stands as the latest match in US Open history. The electric atmosphere inside the venue featured roaring crowds, football-style chanting, and high-velocity rallies that pushed both players to their physical limits.
“It was a war, an epic match, so physical. That was the unterhaltsamste Match meiner Karriere,” Shelton said in the stadium catacombs after securing his second semifinal appearance at the Grand Slam tournament in New York.
Alcaraz’s Comeback Run Halted
For Alcaraz, the defeat marked a painful end to his run at the US Open following a more than four-month layoff due to a wrist injury. Despite dropping the grueling encounter, the 23-year-old Spaniard expressed optimism about his physical recovery and overall condition.
“Es war knapp, wirklich knapp. Deshalb bin ich nicht enttäuscht, dass ich am Ende nicht gewonnen habe,” Alcaraz told reporters shortly after 4:00 a.m. local time. “Ich verlasse den Platz glücklich und gesund, mit einem Lächeln, und genau das habe ich gebraucht.”
Match Dynamics and Deciding Moments
Shelton relied on a dominant serve, firing serves reaching up to 240 kilometers per hour, alongside improved baseline play and court movement compared to his previous meeting with Alcaraz at the 2025 French Open. After splitting the early sets and trading momentum swings amid vocal crowd sections chanting “USA” and soccer-style anthems, the match ultimately descended into a decisive match tie-break. Shelton capitalized on his serves and closed out the contest with an ace.
Path Forward in the Tournament
With the victory, Shelton moves on to an all-American semifinal matchup against Frances Tiafoe. The winner of that contest emerges as a potential final opponent for Alexander Zverev, who faced Botic van de Zandschulp in the subsequent quarterfinal bracket.
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