By Benson Daniel
Ben Shelton has produced the biggest win of his career at the 2026 US Open, defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic five set quarter final battle that stretched beyond five hours and finished in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The American eighth seed held his nerve in a tense deciding tie break to complete one of the most remarkable victories of his career and book his place in the semi finals.
The contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium lived up to its billing from the opening point, with both players producing an extraordinary display of power, athleticism and shot making in front of a packed crowd.
Alcaraz edged the opening set after a fiercely contested tie break, but Shelton responded strongly in the second set. The American used his powerful left handed serve and aggressive baseline game to level the match and then continued his momentum into the third set.
With Shelton beginning to look increasingly comfortable, Alcaraz was forced to raise his level. The Spaniard responded in emphatic fashion, taking the fourth set to send the contest into a deciding fifth set and setting up a dramatic finish.
Neither player was willing to give ground in the final set. Shelton created opportunities on the Alcaraz serve, while the defending champion repeatedly relied on his movement and ability to produce winners from difficult positions to stay alive.
The match eventually moved into a deciding 10 point tie break, where the pressure reached its highest point.
Shelton remained composed when it mattered most, using his serve and aggressive first strike tennis to keep Alcaraz under pressure. The American eventually secured the victory after a marathon contest that ended at around 3am.
The result is particularly significant for Shelton, who entered the match having lost all three of his previous meetings with Alcaraz. He had also never previously defeated a player ranked inside the world’s top three.
That record is now history.
The 23 year old American, who has enjoyed a strong 2026 season and won the Montreal title earlier in the summer, has now reached another US Open semi final after his breakthrough run to the last four in 2023.
For Alcaraz, the defeat ends his bid to defend the US Open title he won last year. The Spaniard had entered the tournament in strong form despite spending several months away from competitive tennis because of a wrist problem.
Shelton will now face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semi finals, guaranteeing an all American showdown for a place in the US Open final.
The victory also strengthens growing hopes that American men’s tennis could finally end its long wait for another home grown US Open champion.
With Shelton and Tiafoe both through to the last four, attention now turns to a semi final that promises another major test for the rising American star.
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