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Carlos Alcaraz, despite losing his US Open title defense in a late-night match that ended at 3:34 AM, expressed joy over returning to competition after a five-month injury absence. He called for scheduling changes to avoid such late finishes and will participate in the Laver Cup in London from September 25-27, alongside other top players like Jannik Sinner, who missed the US Open due to injury. Alcaraz emphasized the importance of maintaining mental and physical health by selectively playing tournaments, noting that he and Sinner form a significant generational rivalry in tennis.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniard who won the US Open title in 2022, expressed frustration after his quarterfinal loss to Ben Shelton at the tournament ended at 3:34 am. This late finish set a new record for the latest match completion time in US Open history. Alcaraz had been out of competition since June due to a wrist injury and was competing for the first time in over five months, which made his return particularly significant despite the grueling schedule.
Alcaraz noted that matches often start later than scheduled because earlier matches run long, pushing back the evening sessions into late hours. He suggested changing the tournament's schedule to prevent such extreme finish times. Players like Alexander Zverev and Venus Williams also had multiple late-night finishes during this year’s US Open.
After his match against Shelton, Alcaraz walked down the Arthur Ashe tunnel with a smile on his face despite the fatigue, highlighting how much he enjoyed being back in competition after months away. The 23-year-old Spaniard emphasized that players often don't get enough sleep following such late matches, putting them at a disadvantage for subsequent competitions.
Written for “Alcaraz US Open Complaints” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
Most players, after seeing their US Open title defence end at 3.34am after five intense sets, would not walk away smiling.
Carlos Alcaraz is not most players.
asserted
Alcaraz → publish → sets
After his loss to Ben Shelton - a match that played out over a gruelling four hours and 28 minutes - the Spaniard was filmed walking down the Arthur Ashe tunnel with a huge grin on his face.
asserted
Spaniard → play → face
Alcaraz had been competing in his first tournament for over five months after suffering a wrist injury that left him in pain every day.
asserted
that → compete → pain
He did not defend his French Open title or compete at Wimbledon, and did not know if he would play in New York until a week before.
asserted
he → defend → week
"The quarter-final was great - it was a gift for me," Alcaraz told BBC Sport before this week's Laver Cup in London.
asserted
Alcaraz → tell → London
"I suffered, but I enjoyed and that's why I smiled when I walked out of the court because I missed that feeling."
asserted
I → suffer → feeling
The match against Shelton was the latest finish in the tournament's history, and was one of several matches at Flushing Meadows to finish in the early hours.
asserted
match → finish → hours
Eventual champion Alexander Zverev finished past 1am in three of his first five matches, while Venus Williams finished her first-round match at 2am.
asserted
Williams → finish → 2
"I think it's too much," Alcaraz said of playing so late.
asserted
Alcaraz → think → ?
"The last match people stayed but if that match was played earlier, the court could have been packed.
uncertain
court → stay → ?
"I would like to change the schedule a little with a maximum finish at 11pm or whatever would be better."
Alcaraz, 23, is one of a number of players to have missed large chunks of the season with injury.
asserted
Alcaraz → like → injury
Britain's Jack Draper has had a lengthy struggle with an arm injury, ultimately ending his season early to recover, while Alcaraz's rival Jannik Sinner missed the US Open with a knee injury.
asserted
Sinner → have → injury
The Spaniard said at the US Open that he will miss some tournaments in the future to allow himself to be "mentally and physically healthy".
asserted
himself → say → future
He will compete for Team Europe in the Laver Cup at The O2 in London this week, between 25-27 September.
asserted
He → compete → September
The team tournament pits Europe - captained by Yannick Noah - against a United States team overseen by Andre Agassi.
asserted
tournament → pit → Agassi
"When you have your team-mates, the best in the world, by your side, it's a weird feeling but it's beautiful," Alcaraz said.
asserted
Alcaraz → have → side
"We played like our lives depend on it.
asserted
lives → play → it
That's why the Laver Cup is so good to watch as well."
asserted
Cup → watch → ?
Alcaraz and Italy's Sinner split eight Grand Slam titles between them from 2024 and 2025, establishing a generational rivalry in the process.
asserted
Alcaraz → split → process
They have only met once this year because of injuries, with Sinner winning their sole meeting in the Monte Carlo Masters final to become world number one.
asserted
Sinner → meet → final
"I have text him not too much, but a few times when he has been winning everything, mostly at the beginning of the year," Alcaraz added.
asserted
Alcaraz → text → year
"I miss him, I miss seeing him around, playing against him.
asserted
I → miss → him
He pushes me to be a better player.
asserted
He → push → me
"People will be waiting for those matches, so I think it's going to be better."
asserted
it → wait → matches
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