Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a 4 hour and 28 minute match that ended at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday, becoming the latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history. The match saw Shelton win 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) and marks his first career win over a top 5 seed in a grand slam tournament. Alcaraz's 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments was ended by Shelton, with the American now set to face No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals. The match had thousands of fans cheering for Shelton and the US crowd.
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 7340 · logged 2026-09-09
Ben Shelton ended Carlos Alcaraz's title reign in the latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history, pulling out a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory in a marathon tussle that ended at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday.
asserted
that → end → a.m.
The match started just after 11 p.m. and lasted 4 hours, 28 minutes, with thousands of fans staying until the end.
asserted
thousands → start → end
Shelton will now play No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe, a fellow American, meaning 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 a grand slam title at the U.S. Open in 2003.
asserted
Roddick → play → 2003
Alcaraz, whose 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments ended Wednesday, 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. That was in the 2022 quarterfinals en route to his first Grand Slam title at 19.
asserted
That → end → 19
Shelton benefited from a home-crowd boost against the popular Alcaraz, with fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium chanting his name along with "USA! USA!"
asserted
fans → benefit → USA
"It's incredible," Shelton said.
asserted
Shelton → say → ?
"I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world ... 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
Shelton's victory marks his first career win over a top 5 seed in a grand slam, CBS Sports reported.
asserted
Sports → mark → slam
He won his seventh Grand Slam title at the Australian Open to start this year not long before his injury.
asserted
He → win → injury
