Hey, just so you know, some of the links on this site are affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission if you buy something through them. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps me keep this site running. Thanks for your support!
Ben Shelton produced the biggest men’s upset of the 2026 US Open quarterfinals, defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) in a match that ended at 3:33 a.m. in New York.
The official US Open reported that the quarterfinal became the latest finish in tournament history. Shelton closed the match with a 146-mph ace after four hours and 28 minutes.
How Shelton Took Down the Defending Champion
Alcaraz won the opening-set tiebreak, but Shelton answered with his most aggressive stretch of the match. The American captured the second set 6-1 and the third 6-3, using his serve and attacking groundstrokes to take time away from Alcaraz.
Alcaraz responded emphatically in the fourth, winning 6-1 and forcing a deciding set. That reset the match into a one-set shootout between two players capable of ending points quickly.
The Fifth-Set Tiebreak
Neither player could create enough separation in the deciding set, sending the quarterfinal to a final-set tiebreak. Shelton held his nerve in the highest-pressure stage of the match and finished it with the signature weapon of his game: a massive serve.
The victory was Shelton’s first against a player ranked inside the world’s top three, according to the official tournament report.
Why This Result Changes the Men’s Draw
Alcaraz entered New York as the defending champion and one of the clear title favorites. His elimination removes one of the most accomplished major champions from the bracket and guarantees a different path through the bottom portion of the draw.
Shelton now advances to an all-American semifinal against Frances Tiafoe. That matchup guarantees an American finalist and gives the home crowd another high-stakes reason to stay invested deep into the tournament.
What Comes Next
The semifinal will test whether Shelton can recover physically after one of the longest and latest matches of the tournament. His serving gives him a way to shorten points, but Tiafoe’s movement, return game and experience in major pressure situations will present a different challenge.
Image note: featured image is generic tennis imagery and does not depict this match. Source verification: official 2026 US Open reporting.