Alcaraz at the limit: retching and vomiting during his match with Shelton

Carlos Alcaraz is pushing his body to the limit in one of the most demanding nights of his career. The Spaniard has been forced to vomit several times during his quarter-final match at the US Open 2026 against Ben Shelton, in images that clearly show the immense physical strain of a battle that extended into the early morning hours in New York.

Arthur Ashe had already been witnessing a match of the highest intensity for hours when the cameras caught Alcaraz using his towel to vomit. It wasn't an isolated image: the world number two showed signs of extreme physical effort at various moments throughout the match. By that point, the clock had already passed two in the morning, and every point was turning into a battle against the opponent, but also against his own body.

The scene perfectly encapsulates the toughness of a Grand Slam match. Alcaraz had to endure immensely intense rallies, long games, and constant tension against a Shelton who was not willing to give up. The American was also playing at home, making Arthur Ashe an even more demanding stage.

Carlos Alcaraz throwing up in his towel during his match against Ben Shelton at the U.S. Open. 

It’s past 2 in the morning.

He's giving it his all. pic.twitter.com/hz6908jJPQ

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 9, 2026

The images quickly went viral on social media, accompanied by a message that perfectly summed up what was happening in New York: “It’s past 2 in the morning. He's giving it his all.” Beyond the result, Alcaraz was leaving one of those images that explain better than any statistic what it means to compete at the highest level.

The Spaniard was not willing to give up. Even after vomiting, he returned to the court to continue fighting for every ball. An extreme demonstration of resilience and commitment on a night when tennis took a backseat to the physical battle.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz al límite: arcadas y vómitos durante su partido con Shelton