Records Ben Shelton set with five-setter win over Carlos Alcaraz
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The last American to win the US Open men’s singles title was Andy Roddick in 2003
Ben Shelton pulled off the biggest win of his career, grinding past defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-setter epic to advance to the semi-finals. Shelton sealed it with a 146 mph ace out wide, and Arthur Ashe Stadium, still packed with fans well past 3 am local time erupted in joy.
The win did more than end Alcaraz’s title defence and send Shelton into an all-American semi-final against Frances Tiafoe. It quietly rewrote a few pages of the record books too, some of them going back decades.
Records Ben Shelton set with quarter-final win against Carlos Alcaraz at US Open 2026
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Latest-ever finish in US Open history
The match finished at 3:33 am local time, the latest a US Open match has ever ended. It beats the old mark from 2022, when Alcaraz himself outlasted Jannik Sinner in a quarter-final that finished at 2:50 AM. Ironically, Alcaraz’s name ends up on both sides of the record, just from different results.
Related: Carlos Alcaraz vs Ben Shelton marathon match sets new record in US Open history
Second player in Open Era to beat a defending champion via a fifth-set tiebreak
Shelton is now only the second man in the Open Era to take down a defending Grand Slam champion in a final-set tiebreak. The only other name on that list is Petr Korda, who beat top seed Pete Sampras 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 at the 1997 US Open as a No. 16 seed.
Also Read: US Open 2026: Reasons behind Carlos Alcaraz’s defeat to Ben Shelton
Ended Alcaraz’s equal-record streak in Grand Slam five-setters
Alcaraz entered this quarter-final match having won 12 consecutive five-set matches at majors, which tied Bjorn Borg’s Open Era record from 1976 to 1980. He never got the chance to break it as a result of Shelton’s heroics.
First career win over a top-three ranked player
This one is a personal milestone for Shelton. He came into the match 0-17 in his career against top-three ranked players.
Shelton trailed Alcaraz 0-3 on head-to-head, 1-9 against Sinner, 0-1 against Novak Djokovic and 0-5 against Alexander Zverev. Beating the World No. 3 (second seed) finally ends that run, and it happened at the most important stage.
Shelton now faces fellow American Frances Tiafoe to reach the US Open final for the first time in his career. He leads the head-to-head against Tiafoe by 3-1.
How did Ben Shelton defeat Carlos Alcaraz at US Open 2026?
Shelton had to fight back from a set down to beat the defending champion and two-time winner in a thrilling five-set clash. The match lasted over four hours, eventually ending as the latest-ever finished match in US Open history. The American eventually won 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).
What records did Ben Shelton set with his quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz?
Prior to this victory, Shelton had never beaten Alcaraz. He also became only the second man in the Open Era to beat the defending champion via a fifth-set tiebreaker. This was also Shelton’s first win over a top-three-ranked player on tour.
Who will Ben Shelton face in the semi-finals of US Open 2026?
Shelton will be up against compatriot Frances Tiafoe for a place in the final.
Who was the last American to win the men’s singles title at US Open?
Andy Roddick was the last homegrown player to win the men’s singles title at the US Open. He did so in 2003, beating Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3.
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