Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3, Spain) saw his bid for back-to-back US Open titles come to an end after a grueling 4-hour and 28-minute battle against Ben Shelton (No. 9, USA).
In a thrilling men’s singles quarterfinal match at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Wednesday, Alcaraz fell to Shelton in a five-set thriller, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).
Alcaraz, who clinched the US Open title last year, had returned to the court after a lengthy hiatus due to a wrist injury, aiming to defend his crown.
The Spaniard had been in fine form, cruising through the early rounds and extending his Grand Slam winning streak to 18 matches. However, his run came to an abrupt end against the home favorite Shelton in the quarterfinals.
The match, which concluded at 3:33 a.m. local time, now holds the record for the latest finish in US Open history.
After claiming the first set in a tiebreaker, Alcaraz dropped the next two sets, finding himself on the brink of elimination. However, he showcased his champion’s mentality by storming back to take the fourth set, forcing a decisive fifth.
The final set was a nail-biter, culminating in another tiebreaker. Alcaraz seemed to gain the upper hand with three straight points, but Shelton’s relentless attack proved too much, ultimately sealing the upset.
Shelton’s giant-killing run continues as he prepares to face compatriot Frances Tiafoe (No. 12) on September 13 for a spot in the final.
In women’s singles action, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) edged out Linda Noskova (No. 6, Czech Republic) in a tight three-setter, 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-6(3), to secure her semifinal berth.
With this victory, Sabalenka, eyeing a third consecutive title at Flushing Meadows, has now reached the US Open semifinals for an impressive six straight years.
She’ll face off against Jessica Pegula (No. 3, USA), who advanced by defeating Emma Navarro (No. 27, USA), in a highly anticipated semifinal clash.
Interestingly, this marks the third consecutive year that Sabalenka and Pegula will meet at the US Open.
Their previous encounters saw Sabalenka emerge victorious in both the 2022 final and last year’s semifinal, en route to claiming the title.