Shelton ends Alcaraz’s US Open title defence in five-set quarter-final
Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in five sets to reach an all-American US Open semi-final against Frances Tiafoe.
In short
- Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in five sets to reach an all-American US Open semi-final against Frances Tiafoe.
Ben Shelton knocked defending champion Carlos Alcaraz out of the US Open with a five-set quarter-final victory in New York in the early hours of 9 September 2026.
The eighth-seeded American won 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7) at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result, confirmed by the tournament’s official website, puts him through to a semi-final against fellow American Frances Tiafoe.
Shelton recovered from losing the opening set to take the next two, but Alcaraz forced a decider by winning the fourth. Shelton then secured the final-set tiebreak 10-7 to end the second seed’s title defence.
The match began on 8 September and continued beyond 3.30am on 9 September. It was part of a quarter-final programme in which all four singles matches went to deciding sets, according to The Guardian.
The all-American semi-final guarantees a home player in the men’s championship match.
