ABC News (US)
· collected 2026-09-09 · by BRIAN MAHONEY AP sports writer
Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a late-night marathon match that ended at 3:33 a.m., winning 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7). This victory ended Alcaraz's 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments. Shelton will face Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semifinals after Tiafoe defeated Alex Michelsen in a five-set match on Tuesday. The late-night matches at the US Open have been well-received by fans, with thousands staying to watch Shelton's victory despite the early hour.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-09,
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 second-seeded tennis player, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over Tommy Paul. This is Alcaraz's second victory against Paul in as many meetings. The match was a dominant performance by Alcaraz, who extended his major match-winning streak to 18 and showcased his return to form after a four-month injury layoff. In an interview, Alcaraz stated that he played his game and tried to play his style, which led to the win.
Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked tennis player, also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Taylor Townsend. This was Sabalenka's first meeting against Townsend, who gave her opponent fits in the first set but ultimately couldn't overcome Sabalenka's strong performance.
Both Alcaraz and Sabalenka will now move on to face new opponents in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz is expected to face either Ben Shelton or Stefanos Tsitsipas, while Sabalenka's opponent has not yet been determined. The US Open continues with its quarterfinal matches, featuring top players from around the world vying for a spot in the semifinals.
Written for “US Open Tennis Quarterfinals” on 2026-09-09,
grounded in this article and the 18 other(s) covering the same event.
Shelton ends Alcaraz's title in late-night marathon, will face Tiafoe in US Open
Ben Shelton ended Carlos Alcaraz’s title reign in the latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history as he pulled out a 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 victory in a marathon tussle that ended at 3:33 a.m.
asserted
that → end → a.m.
Alcaraz had his 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tour...
asserted
Alcaraz → have → tour
Ben Shelton had gone toe-to-toe with Carlos Alcaraz for five exhausting sets and finally at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday came the chance to end the U.S. Open champion's title reign.
asserted
chance → go → reign
Shelton fired an ace at 146 mph, a ball that Alcaraz couldn't have gotten back even with fresh legs.
asserted
Alcaraz → fire → legs
That gave Shelton a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory in a marathon tussle that was the latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history.
asserted
that → give → history
“I’m tired.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
It was a war,” Shelton said.
asserted
Shelton → say → ?
It was the most enjoyable match I've had in my career, for sure.”
asserted
I → have → career
Alcaraz had his 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments ended in a match that lasted 4 hours, 28 minutes, after he fought deep into the night and early into the next morning in a bid to get his hands on the trophy again.
asserted
he → have → trophy
“I mean it was close, it was really close, so I was disappointed I didn't get the win at the end,” the No. 2-seeded Alcaraz said.
asserted
Alcaraz → mean → end
“But I’m happy, I am proud of myself about how I fought.
asserted
I → ’m → myself
As I said, physically I was really tired but I found a way to push myself.”
asserted
I → say → myself
Shelton next plays No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe, who kept coming back until he had reached his third U.S. Open semifinal, beating Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) on Tuesday.
asserted
he → play → Tuesday
The U.S. is guaranteed to have a representative in Sunday's final as it seeks its first men's major title since Andy Roddick lifted the title here in 2003.
asserted
Roddick → guarantee → 2003
Alcaraz had played in the previous latest finish at the U.S. Open when he outlasted Jannik Sinner in a match that finished at 2:50 a.m. in the 2022 quarterfinals en route to his first Grand Slam title at 19.
asserted
that → play → 19
The U.S. Open craves its night matches and players love the energy the fans provide — even when a number of matches have already gone past 2 a.m. this year.
asserted
number → crave → a.m.
Thousands stayed to the end, with Arthur Ashe Stadium perhaps still one-third full for the finish.
asserted
Thousands → stay → finish
Shelton benefited from a home-crowd boost even against the popular Alcaraz, with fans chanting his name along with “USA! USA!”
asserted
fans → benefit → USA
“It’s incredible," Shelton said.
asserted
Shelton → ’ → ?
“I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world, I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world.
asserted
this → say → world
I’m just hoping that my best friend and my sister over there don’t have to be at work at 6 a.m. in three hours.”
asserted
friend → hop → hours
Three of the four singles quarterfinals went to match tiebreakers on a marathon day, which started with Aryna Sabalenka edging Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova to keep her hopes alive of a third straight U.S. Open title.
asserted
Sabalenka → go → title
Alcaraz will have to wait for his next one.
asserted
Alcaraz → have → one
Instead it was Shelton reaching his third major semifinal, having gotten to the final four in the 2023 U.S. Open and 2025 Australian Open.
asserted
Shelton → reach → Open
He seized control by winning nine straight games from early in the second set until he had a 3-0 lead in the third.
asserted
he → seize → third
But Alcaraz, in his first tournament since April after returning from a right wrist injury, battled back even as he vomited before the start of the final set.
asserted
he → return → set
Alcaraz ran off four straight points in the tiebreaker to go ahead 5-3, but Shelton came back behind some of his powerful serves that can exceed 140 mph, along with some mistakes from Alcaraz.
asserted
that → run → Alcaraz
Shelton eventually finished it off with a 146 mph serve his opponent couldn't get back.
asserted
opponent → finish → serve
He won his seventh Grand Slam title at the Australian Open to start this year not long before his injury, and came to Flushing Meadows saying he didn't know what to expect.
asserted
he → win → what
“I’m leaving happy and my head held high,” Alcaraz said.
asserted
Alcaraz → leave → ?
“The truth is, I wanted to win ... but also our goal was to leave the tournament having played matches and staying healthy.”
asserted
goal → want → matches
Tiafoe reached the semifinals in 2022 and lost to Alcaraz, when the Spaniard won his first of seven Grand Slam titles.
asserted
Spaniard → reach → titles
Tiafoe lost to fellow American Taylor Fritz two years later, when the U.S. came closest to ending it’s men’s drought.
asserted
U.S. → lose → drought
It certainly didn’t appear Tiafoe would be going back this time, after Michelsen continued his dominant run through his breakout tournament.
asserted
Michelsen → appear → tournament
He was the only man who hadn’t dropped a set, and he served to win the match with a 5-4 lead in the third.
asserted
he → drop → third
He couldn't finish it off and Tiafoe charged back after falling behind 3-0 in the fifth set.
asserted
Tiafoe → finish → set
Tiafoe said his performance to start the match was slow and flat.
asserted
performance → say → match
“It wasn’t good, let’s put it that way.
asserted
’s → let → it
It wasn’t good,” he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
“Three out of five is a blessing, because you have time to get it together.
asserted
you → have → it
…and 3 more, not listed.
