Ben Shelton won a close five-set match against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz at the 2026 US Open. The eighth seed from the USA triumphed with scores of 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7). The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium, breaking Alcaraz's 18-match Grand Slam win streak. Shelton will now compete against Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals. How Did Shelton Beat Alcaraz?Ben Shelton produced one of the biggest wins of his career by overcoming Carlos Alcaraz in a high-quality five-set battle. Alcaraz won the opening set, but Shelton quickly changed the momentum with powerful serving and aggressive baseline play. The American took the second and third sets before Alcaraz forced a deciding set. Shelton eventually held his nerve in the 10-point tiebreak to complete the upset.Shelton won the quarterfinal 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes.Shelton defeated a top-three opponent for the first time.Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak ended.Shelton will meet Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals.Shelton Overcomes Tough StartIn the beginning, Alcaraz seemed to be winning the quarterfinal by winning the first-set tiebreak. However, Shelton came back strong, taking control in the next two sets. His strong serve and aggressive returns put a lot of pressure on the defending champion. Alcaraz fought back in the fourth set and forced a deciding set, keeping the contest alive deep into the night. The final set remained extremely competitive before Shelton prevailed in the deciding tiebreak. The match finished at 3:33 a.m., making it the latest finish in US Open history.Also Read: Raúl Flores Breaks Deadlift World Record With Historic 511kg Lift In BirminghamAlcaraz Title Defense EndsReturning as the defending champion, Alcaraz was back in competitive tennis after a four-and-a-half-month break for a wrist injury. He performed strongly in his opening matches and reached the quarterfinals without dropping a single set after round one. Shelton arrived in the quarterfinals after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. Before facing Alcaraz, he had already defeated Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov in four-set matches. The victory over Alcaraz now gives Shelton another deep US Open run after his semifinal appearance in 2023.Key HighlightsBen Shelton reached the 2026 US Open semifinals.Carlos Alcaraz’s title defense ended in the quarterfinals.Shelton won the deciding 10-point tiebreak 10-7.The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes.The contest ended at 3:33 a.m., a US Open record.Shelton will face Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semifinal.Shelton Sets Up All-American ClashShelton’s win means he’ll play against Frances Tiafoe next in the US Open semifinals, creating an all-American clash. Tiafoe had also won a tough match against Alex Michelsen. For Shelton, this is a big achievement as he returns to the semifinals after doing so well in 2023. Final ResultBen Shelton has advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 US Open by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in an unforgettable five-set match. His strong serves and focus in the final tiebreak made all the difference. Alcaraz's impressive streak of 18 Grand Slam victories has come to an end. Shelton will face Frances Tiafoe next. Disclaimer: This article is provided only for knowledge and news-information purposes. Match results and tournament details are based on official and reliable reports available at the time of publication.
