Ben Shelton entered Arthur Ashe Stadium facing one of the toughest challenges in tennis. Hours later, deep into the New York night, the American walked off the court having produced the biggest victory of his career.
Shelton defeated defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic five-set quarterfinal, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7), advancing to the semifinals and sending another wave of excitement through American tennis.
But the result was only part of what made the match extraordinary.
The contest finished at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday, making it the latest finish to a match in US Open history.
And Shelton saved one of his biggest weapons for the final moment.
A 146-mph ace sealed the victory.
Shelton turns the match around after losing the opening set
Alcaraz appeared to have the early advantage.
The Spaniard survived a competitive opening set and captured the tiebreak 7-5. For Shelton, losing such a close first set against the defending champion could easily have changed the direction of the match.
Instead, his response was devastating.
Shelton began applying more pressure and Alcaraz’s errors increased. At one stage, the American won nine consecutive games, transforming a one-set deficit into a two-sets-to-one advantage.
The official US Open account described Shelton’s serving, returns and angled groundstrokes as central to his ability to overpower the defending champion.
Alcaraz wasn’t finished.
He dominated the fourth set 6-1, forcing a deciding fifth set and setting up a finish that would stretch well into Wednesday morning.
A fifth set decided under enormous pressure
By the deciding set, the quarterfinal had become an endurance test as much as a tennis match.
Alcaraz was also dealing with visible physical difficulties and was seen vomiting during a break before the final set. Still, he continued competing and pushed Shelton all the way to a deciding tiebreak.
That is where Shelton finally completed the upset.
The American prevailed 10-7 in the deciding tiebreak, ending the four-hour, 28-minute contest with his 146-mph ace.
The clock at Arthur Ashe Stadium showed 3:33 a.m.
It wasn’t merely a late finish. It established a new US Open record.
Why the victory is so significant for Ben Shelton
The opponent makes the achievement even bigger.
Alcaraz arrived as the defending champion and had previously gone 13-0 against American men at Grand Slam tournaments.
Shelton, meanwhile, had never defeated a Top 3 player. He entered the match with an 0-17 record against Top 3 opponents.
Both streaks ended in the same night.
Shelton also snapped Alcaraz’s 18-match winning streak at Grand Slam tournaments, according to the US Open.
At 23, Shelton now has another opportunity to turn a breakthrough victory into something considerably bigger.
An all-American semifinal comes next
There is another reason American tennis fans have suddenly been given plenty to celebrate.
Shelton will face Frances Tiafoe in Friday’s semifinal.
That guarantees an American man a place in the US Open final.
The significance becomes clearer when looking at the recent history of American men’s tennis.
Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, capturing the US Open in 2003.
More than two decades later, the possibility of ending that drought is alive again.
Either Shelton or Tiafoe will get the opportunity.
New York stayed awake for Shelton
The extraordinary finishing time also became part of the story.
The match didn’t begin until 11:05 p.m. Tuesday and continued for four hours and 28 minutes. Despite the hour, fans remained inside Arthur Ashe Stadium as the match moved deeper into Wednesday morning.
Shelton later credited the New York crowd, along with his family, friends and team, for helping him through the marathon.
The late finish is also contributing to a broader conversation about US Open scheduling. AP reported that the tournament had already experienced several matches ending after 1 or 2 a.m., raising questions about how late-night sessions are being managed.
This one pushed the boundary further than any before it.
Ben Shelton suddenly has a massive opportunity
Beating Alcaraz doesn’t guarantee Shelton the championship.
But it changes the picture dramatically.
He has eliminated the defending champion, recorded his first victory against a Top 3 opponent and reached another Grand Slam semifinal — all in one unforgettable night.
Now comes Frances Tiafoe.
And for American tennis, the stakes are enormous: one of them will play for the US Open championship and move within a single victory of accomplishing something no American man has done at a Grand Slam since 2003.
For Shelton, the night that ended at 3:33 a.m. may eventually be remembered as much more than an upset.
It could be the moment his career entered a different level.
