Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling U.S. Open quarterfinal that will go down in history as the tournament’s latest-ever finish. The American eighth seed outlasted the defending champion in a 4-hour-28-minute marathon that concluded at 3:33 a.m. local time on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
The match, which did not start until after 11 p.m., was a gripping five-set battle. Shelton secured his first-ever victory over Alcaraz, winning 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7). He sealed the triumph with a stunning 146 mph ace to clinch the final-set tiebreak. The victory snapped Alcaraz’s 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments.
The match surpassed the previous record for the latest finish in U.S. Open history, which was also held by Alcaraz, a match that ended at 2:50 a.m. in 2022. Alcaraz, who was playing his first tournament since April following a wrist injury, had been the defending champion. The massive crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium stayed late into the night to witness the epic clash. Shelton credited the fans’ energy with helping him pull through to the very end.
