American tennis player Ben Shelton recorded the biggest win of his career by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic five-set quarterfinal at the US Open 2026.
The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes and ended at 3:34 AM, making it the latest finish in the history of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. Shelton won the match 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7) after a long and intense battle.
The victory ended Alcaraz’s impressive 18-match unbeaten run in Grand Slam tournaments. The Spanish star had been one of the main favourites for the title, but Shelton refused to give up and fought back whenever Alcaraz appeared to be taking control.
Alcaraz won the opening set in a close tiebreak, putting Shelton under early pressure. However, the American quickly responded in the second set. Shelton played aggressive tennis, served strongly and took advantage of Alcaraz’s mistakes to win the set 6-1.
Shelton continued his strong performance in the third set, winning it 6-3 and moving closer to a major upset. Alcaraz then produced a response in the fourth set, winning 6-1 and forcing the match into a deciding fifth set.
The final set was extremely close. Both players fought hard and refused to give their opponent an easy opportunity. The set eventually went to a deciding tiebreak, where Shelton remained calm under pressure and secured the biggest victory of his career.
Alcaraz, who had recently returned after a four-month injury break, showed determination throughout the match. However, several unforced errors at important moments made it difficult for him to maintain control.
The home crowd played an important role in creating a special atmosphere inside the stadium. American fans loudly supported Shelton, with chants of “USA!” echoing through the venue. Their support appeared to give Shelton extra energy during the difficult moments of the match.
Shelton will now face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinal. Tiafoe has reached his third US Open semifinal, setting up an exciting all-American clash.
The result also guarantees that an American man will reach the US Open final. American tennis fans are hoping the country can finally win a men’s Grand Slam title after a long wait dating back to 2003.
Alcaraz had previously enjoyed strong results against American players, but Shelton was able to challenge him with powerful serves, aggressive groundstrokes and strong mental strength.
After the match, Shelton thanked the crowd for staying with him until the early hours of the morning. He joked about how late the match finished and expressed hope that his friends and supporters were not too tired after staying up to watch the dramatic contest.
Shelton’s victory is now one of the biggest moments of his young career. With the home crowd behind him and another American standing between him and the final, he will now look to continue his remarkable run at the 2026 US Open.