American Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium that finished at 3:33 a.m., marking the latest-ever match end in U.S. Open history. Shelton advances to face Frances Tiafoe, guaranteeing a U.S. finalist.
There is leaving it late, and then there is what Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz served up at Flushing Meadows. The American eighth seed outdueled the defending champion in a punishing encounter that stretched four hours and 28 minutes, finally concluding at 3:33 a.m. in front of a raucous New York crowd. The victory propels Shelton into the semifinals to face fellow American Francis Tiafoe, guaranteeing that a U.S. men’s player will reach Sunday’s final and contend for the country’s first Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick won in New York in 2003.
A Record-Breaking Late Night at Arthur Ashe Stadium
The epic clash broke the previous record for the latest finish in tournament history, a distinction previously held by Alcaraz’s 2022 quarterfinal against Jannik Sinner, which wrapped up at 2:50 a.m. Alcaraz, playing in his first tournament since April, struggled visibly at times during the grueling contest, at one point vomiting into a towel on the court. Shelton halted the Spaniard’s 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments by taking the second and third sets after dropping a first-set tiebreak, ultimately sealing the match in a final-set tiebreaker that he won 10-7.
“It’s incredible. I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world, I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world. I’m just hoping that my best friend and my sister over there don’t have to be at work at 6 a.m. in three hours.”
Ben Shelton, via Nbcnews
Scheduling Backlog Sparks Outrage Across Tennis Community
The historic finish was the product of a massive backlog on Tuesday, September 8, when Arthur Ashe Stadium hosted four marquee matches. The day session began at 11:30 a.m. ET with world No. 1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka edging Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) in a two-hour, 22-minute battle. That contest was followed by an all-American marathon where Frances Tiafoe completed a comeback against Alex Michelsen in four hours and 39 minutes.
Those extended matches pushed the evening session deep into the night. An all-American women’s showdown between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro consumed another two hours and 21 minutes, leaving Alcaraz and Shelton unable to take the court until 11:00 p.m. ET. The delay triggered an immediate wave of criticism on social media from fans and media members alike.
Brutal scheduling luck for the Open that the most anticipated match of the tournament thus far won’t start until after 11
Anthony Dubbundo, sportswriter via Yahoo Sports
Other observers were far more blunt about the logistical failure, with one fan writing that this behavior by the US Open should be illegal
while noting that the players might still be competing at 4 a.m. Critics questioned why tournament organizers did not utilize multiple large courts to keep the marquee schedule on track, arguing that overnight finishes benefit neither the exhausted competitors nor the spectators struggling to stay awake.
Marathon Tuesday Results and Revised Tournament Schedule
Tuesday’s heavy schedule saw three of the four singles quarterfinals decide outcomes through tiebreakers. Alongside Shelton’s victory, Aryna Sabalenka kept her bid alive for a third U.S. title by holding off Linda Nosková, and Frances Tiafoe outlasted Alex Michelsen.
| Matchup | Division | Result / Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Aryna Sabalenka vs. Linda Nosková | Women’s Singles | 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) (2h 22m) |
| Frances Tiafoe vs. Alex Michelsen | Men’s Singles | 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) (4h 39m) |
| Jessica Pegula vs. Emma Navarro | Women’s Singles | 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 (2h 21m) |
| Ben Shelton vs. Carlos Alcaraz | Men’s Singles | Shelton win in 5 sets, finished at 3:33 a.m. (4h 28m) |
In response to the scheduling bottleneck, tournament organizers made adjustments for Wednesday, September 9. The day session opens with Zheng Qinwen facing Elena Rybakina at 11:30 a.m. ET, followed by Mirra Andreeva against Coco Gauff and Karen Khachanov meeting Alexander Blockx. Alexander Zverev and Botic van de Zandschulp are slated for the evening session beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET, providing a more manageable window for players as the tournament moves toward Thursday’s women’s semifinals.
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