Ben Shelton ended Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open title defence with a five-set win that finished at 03:34 local time, the latest finish in the tournament’s history.
The eighth seed won 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (10-7) on Arthur Ashe Stadium in a match that ran four hours and 28 minutes. A large crowd stayed deep into the night to watch it.
The match did not start until about 11 in the evening in New York. Tuesday’s earlier matches delayed the start of the night session.
Shelton’s win was the biggest of his career. He had not beaten a top-three player in 17 attempts and had lost each of his three previous matches against Spain’s Alcaraz.
The Longest Night at Arthur Ashe Stadium
The finish at 03:34 was the latest end to a match at the US Open. A standing welcome met Shelton at the end.
The audience had stayed to watch a modern classic unfold over four hours and 28 minutes. Shelton is 23 years old.
He will now play Frances Tiafoe in Friday’s semi-finals. That match guarantees an American man in the title match in New York.
Andy Roddick was the last American man to win the US Open singles title. He did it in 2003.
Shelton was not born when Roddick won.
How Shelton Turned the Match Around
The first set went to a tie-break. Alcaraz took it 7-5 in the tie-break.
Shelton responded with force. He took the second set 6-1.
The third set went to Shelton as well, 6-3. He was one set away from the semi-finals.
Alcaraz did not go quietly. He took the fourth set 6-1 to force a decider.
The fifth set went to a tie-break. Shelton won it 10-7.
The win ended Alcaraz’s defence of the title. It also ended Shelton’s long run of losses against top-three players.
Shelton had lost 17 straight matches against players ranked in the top three. He had also lost all three of his prior meetings with Alcaraz.
That record is now over. Shelton’s win was the most significant of his career.
The Crowd That Stayed
The match drew a large crowd that remained captivated deep into the night. The audience watched as the score swung from one player to the other.
The start time was late. The match began about 11 in the evening after earlier matches ran long.
Players and fans alike were part of a long night at the tournament. The finish time set a new mark for the event.
Shelton’s win was a lift for home hopes. An American man has not won the US Open singles title since Roddick in 2003.
That wait could end this year. Shelton and Tiafoe are both American.
They will meet in the semi-finals on Friday. One of them will reach the title match.
Shelton’s Record Against the Top
Shelton came into the match with a poor record against the best players in the world. He had not beaten a top-three player in 17 attempts.
That number was a heavy weight. He had also lost each of his three matches against Alcaraz.
The win changes that story. Shelton now has a win over a top-three player.
Alcaraz was the defending champion. The loss ends his run at this tournament.
He will not repeat as champion. Shelton moves on.
He will play Tiafoe for a place in the title match.
What Happens Next
The semi-final between Shelton and Tiafoe is set for Friday. It will be played at the US Open in New York.
The winner of that match will play in the title match. An American man is assured of a place in the title match.
There has been no American men’s champion in New York for 23 years. Roddick was the last American man to win the title.
He did it in 2003. Shelton was not born then.
Shelton’s win over Alcaraz was the biggest of his career. He will now try to go further.
The Numbers From the Match
- The match finished at 03:34 local time, the latest finish in US Open history.
- The match lasted four hours and 28 minutes.
- Shelton won 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (10-7).
- Shelton had not beaten a top-three player in 17 attempts before this match.
- Shelton had lost all three of his previous matches against Alcaraz.
- Finish time: 03:34 local time
- Match length: 4 hours 28 minutes
- Score: 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (10-7)
- Shelton’s prior record against top-three players: 0 wins in 17 attempts
- Shelton’s prior record against Alcaraz: 0 wins in 3 matches
- Last American man to win the US Open: Andy Roddick, 2003
The win was a long time coming for Shelton. He had struggled against the best players in the world for years.
Now he has a win over the defending champion. He has a place in the semi-finals.
The match will be remembered for its length and its late finish. It will also be remembered for the crowd that stayed to see it end.
Shelton will now face Tiafoe on Friday. The winner will reach the title match.
The record for the latest finish now belongs to Shelton. He broke it with a win over the defending champion.
That is how this tournament will remember him. The crowd that stayed until 03:34 saw something no one at the US Open had seen before — and Shelton was the man who gave it to them.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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