Ben Shelton stuns Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set US Open 2026 thriller

Ben Shelton produced one of the biggest upsets in US Open history when he defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set marathon that ended at 3:33 a.m. local time on September 9, 2026, in New York. The American won 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10/7) after four hours and 28 minutes, breaking the record for the latest finish at the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam. Shelton battled back from losing the first set and took control with aggressive serving and net play. Alcaraz, who had won 18 consecutive Grand Slam matches and was seeking a third US Open title, refused to surrender and forced a final-set tie-break. In the dramatic 10-point breaker, Shelton triumphed 10-7 after missing several match points, collapsing to the court in joy. “It’s all for the people in the stands. New York stayed up with me until 3 a.m. The 'USA' chants pushed me through,” Shelton said. He also praised Alcaraz as one of the greatest champions at just 23. The win extends Shelton's superb North American hard-court season, which includes the Montreal Masters title. Shelton will now face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals on September 11, with both players chasing their first Grand Slam final. Shelton leads their head-to-head 3-1, but Tiafoe won their 2026 US Open meeting. The defeat ends Alcaraz's streak of Grand Slam victories and dashes his hopes of winning a fifth consecutive US Open title, matching Roger Federer's record. Alcaraz, the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam, vowed to learn from this loss and come back stronger. Shelton's historic victory has revived hope for American men's tennis, which has not won a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick at the 2026 US Open. If Shelton can beat Tiafoe, he would become the first American male finalist in New York in two decades.