Shelton ousts Alcaraz in five sets and becomes the favorite in New York

Fernando Murciego - 9 Sep 2026 | 09:35
ATP Ben Shelton US Open 2026 Carlos Alcaraz

Splendid match from both players, offering a sublime spectacle that ended well past three in the morning. Shelton took it, now meeting Tiafoe and ensuring an American in the grand final of the US Open.
 

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Shelton takes down Alcaraz and emerges as the favorite in New York. Source: Getty

Carlos Alcaraz will not win the US Open 2026. He wasn't obliged to do so, although the betting odds were starting to see him as the main candidate for success. The key was to win tonight against Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals, a duel that the American won thanks to a performance that confirms he is ready for the next leap (6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6).

Right from the first set, the essence of this match was evident. It seemed that neither could find a way to escape from the other, and every opportunity was doubly valuable. Alcaraz managed to break at 5-5, but his joy lasted only a few minutes: Shelton immediately responded, broke back, and sent the set to a tiebreak. Some doubts appeared in the Spanish player, particularly with his forehand, while the American went up 5-3. It seemed he had the set in hand, but Alcaraz clicked. He stepped it up, got serious, and strung together the decisive points to turn the tiebreak around and close it out at 7-5.

It seemed like the kind of hit that could leave Shelton shaken, but the exact opposite happened. The first three games of the second set were a battle within the battle. Shelton finally found the break and, from there, he took off. Alcaraz started to show a slight physical drop, which also had mental consequences. The Spaniard realized that the set was slipping away and decided to manage his efforts, thinking about what was coming next. Shelton did not miss: 6-1 and the match completely wide open.

The third set confirmed that this was much more than just a simple bad moment. Shelton started with a 3-0 lead, extending his consecutive games won to nine. Alcaraz was affected, but not defeated. He even had moments to smile, engage with the crowd, and stay connected to a court that wasn’t offering its best conditions for his tennis.

The New York night didn't help the Spaniard either. His ball barely found height, and his forehand, one of his greatest weapons, lacked its usual precision and depth. Shelton, on the other hand, was playing probably the best tennis of his life. He struck with determination, capitalized on his power, and did not give an inch. The dream of reaching the semifinals was starting to take shape. Then, the blackout came.

When Shelton seemed to have complete control of the match, he vanished from the contest. His first serve dropped to 58% effectiveness, and even more concerning, he won only 20% of the points played with his second serve. Alcaraz didn't need to shine. He just had to stay in the match and capitalize on his opponent's collapse. The result was decisive, 6-1 for Carlos, and everything to play for in the fifth. And then the show began.

The fifth set was probably the most beautiful of the entire night. The Arthur Ashe crowd was completely engaged, even as the clock approached three in the morning. Every serve, every return, and every rally was celebrated as if it were the last. Up to 4-4, Shelton had to save two break points, and Alcaraz, three. Nobody was finding the exit door. It was impossible to know who was closer to winning because they were, in reality, exactly at the same place: on the edge of the abyss.

The match ended in a super tiebreak. The 6-6 left the score hanging in the air. There was no margin to correct anything, nor time to think about what had happened in the previous four hours. One return, one forehand, one decision. A tiny detail could decide everything. And it fell on Shelton's side. The American took the decisive tiebreak and claimed the most important victory of his career. He also made history: he became, along with Matteo Berrettini, the second player capable of defeating Alcaraz in a fifth set. Now he will have to recover from a battle that ended in the early morning, because on Friday another American, Frances Tiafoe, awaits him in semifinals that promise to continue the celebration of American tennis in New York.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shelton aparta a Alcaraz en cinco sets y se viste de favorito en Nueva York