Ben Shelton, an American tennis player, defeated defending U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set match that finished at 3:33 a.m., making it the latest finish in the tournament's history. The match lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes, with Shelton winning after a final set tiebreaker. Alcaraz had been on an 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments before the loss. Shelton will face fellow American Francis Tiafoe in the semifinals, ensuring that an American will be in the final for the first time since 2003.
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.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 7308 · logged 2026-09-09
There’s leaving it late, and then there’s what Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz just served up at the U.S. Open.
asserted
Shelton → leave → Open
The American star ultimately outdueled the defending champion in the latest ever finish at the tournament, a thriller that didn’t finish until 3:33 a.m. in front of a raucous New York crowd.
asserted
that → outduele → crowd
The five-set victory takes Shelton to the semifinals, where he will face fellow American Francis Tiafoe.
That means there is guaranteed to be an American in Sunday’s final, hoping to end a drought that has seen no U.S. men’s player win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in New York in 2003.
asserted
player → take → 2003
Shelton, the No. 8 seed, ended Alcaraz’ 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments in a clash that lasted 4 hours, 28 minutes.
asserted
that → end → hours
At one point the Spaniard could be seen vomiting into a towel.
uncertain
Spaniard → see → towel
The grueling quarterfinal was played under the lights after a day of marathon contests at Flushing Meadows.
asserted
quarterfinal → play → Meadows
The highlight-filled match swung back and forth, with Shelton winning the second and third sets after losing the first on a tie break.
asserted
Shelton → fill → break
No. 2 seed Alcaraz, who missed most of the season with a wrist injury, won the fourth set 6-1 to set up a grueling final set.
asserted
who → miss → set
The pair traded blows but ultimately couldn’t be separated until the final set tiebreaker, which Shelton won 10-7.
asserted
Shelton → trade → which
The epic now stands as the latest finish in the history of a tournament increasingly known for its overnight duels.
asserted
epic → stand → duels
That honor had previously been held by another Alcaraz match, against his rival at the top of the sport Jannik Sinner, which finished at 2:50 a.m in the 2022 quarterfinals.
asserted
which → hold → quarterfinals
That victory helped Alcaraz, then 19, on the way to his first U.S. Open title.
asserted
victory → help → title
He’ll now set his sights on regaining the form that made him the sport’s leading light.
asserted
him → set → form
Three of Tuesday’s four singles quarterfinal matches went to match tiebreakers, the day starting with Aryna Sabalenka edging Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova to keep alive her hopes of a third straight U.S. title.
asserted
Sabalenka → go → title
Tiafoe then outlasted fellow American Alex Michelsen, staging repeated comebacks to set up the semifinal with Shelton.
asserted
Tiafoe → outlast → Shelton
Thousands of fans stayed to the gripping end, with both Shelton and the popular showman Alcaraz enjoying loud support in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It’s incredible,” Shelton said.
asserted
Shelton → stay → Stadium
“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
Alcaraz said he could “leave the court happy,” and the seven-time Grand Slam champion offered praise for his American opponent.
uncertain
champion → say → opponent
“I leave the court with a smile.
asserted
I → leave → smile
I am proud of myself, how I fought,” he said.
asserted
he → fight → myself
“Shelton played a very complete, very mature match,” Alcaraz added in Spanish.
asserted
Alcaraz → play → Spanish
“He knew exactly what to do at every moment.
asserted
He → know → moment
And, physically, he’s a beast.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
It seemed like he had no weaknesses whatsoever.”
asserted
he → seem → weaknesses
Shelton summed up the evening.
asserted
Shelton → sum → evening
“It was a war,” he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
