Ben Shelton Stuns Defending Champion Carlos Alcaraz in US Open Thriller

In a dramatic turn of events at the 2026 US Open, local favorite Ben Shelton has eliminated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a pulsating five-set quarterfinal. The marathon encounter, which concluded in the early hours of the morning, set a new record for the latest finish ever recorded at Flushing Meadows, ending the Spaniard's pursuit of another major title.

Shelton secured a career-first victory over the seven-time Grand Slam champion, triumphing 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7) after four hours and 28 minutes of play. The result brings an abrupt end to Alcaraz’s 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam competition, marking a difficult exit for the star in his first tournament following a four-month injury layoff.

With this victory, Shelton is set to face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals. Tiafoe earned his place in the final four after staging his own comeback, overcoming a two-set deficit to defeat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6). The matchup guarantees that an American man will compete in Sunday’s final, as the nation looks to secure its first men’s major title since Andy Roddick’s victory in 2003.

The quarterfinal day was defined by its intensity, with three of the four singles matches requiring tiebreakers to decide the outcome. Earlier in the day, Aryna Sabalenka continued her campaign for a third consecutive US Open title by narrowly defeating Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. For Alcaraz, the loss marks a rare early exit at a venue where he previously set the record for the latest finish in 2022 during his quarterfinal battle against Jannik Sinner.