American Ben Shelton, 23, defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in a US Open quarter-final that started Tuesday night and finished at 3.33am Wednesday, the latest-ever finish at the Open.
Key facts
- Ben Shelton, 23, beat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets.
- The quarter-final ended at 3.33am on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- It was the latest-ever finish at the US Open and the fifth-latest in grand slam history.
- Shelton hit his seventh ace to seal the match.
- His win raises the prospect of the first American men's US Open champion since 2003.
Ben Shelton produced one of the standout performances of the US Open, ousting defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarter-final that began on Tuesday night and stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to the Guardian.
When the 23-year-old fired the final ball out wide for his seventh ace of the night, the clock on Arthur Ashe Stadium read 3.33am. The Guardian reported it was the latest-ever finish at the US Open and the fifth-latest finish in grand slam history.
The victory carries significant weight for American tennis. As the Guardian noted, Shelton’s win means there is a real chance of an American man winning the US Open for the first time since 2003.
The emotion was clear once the match ended. After embracing Alcaraz at the net, Shelton pumped his fists and let out a primal scream toward his coach’s box, before gesturing to the stands where his mother and his girlfriend, soccer star Trinity Rodman, were watching.
In his on-court interview, Shelton asked that his sister, Emma, be given the day off. According to the Guardian, she had spent the entire night and much of the early morning watching her younger brother play.
The match added to a run of late-night marathons that have become a talking point at this year’s tournament, with Shelton showing he can compete deep into the graveyard shift and come out on top against one of the sport’s best players.
Why it matters
Shelton's win over the defending champion puts an American man within reach of a US Open title for the first time in over two decades. The late finish also renews attention on grand slam scheduling and the physical toll of matches running into the early morning.
Frequently asked questions
Who did Ben Shelton beat at the US Open?
Shelton beat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in a quarter-final that started Tuesday night and finished Wednesday morning, according to the Guardian.
What time did the match finish?
The match ended at 3.33am, which the Guardian reported was the latest-ever finish at the US Open and the fifth-latest in grand slam history.
When did an American man last win the US Open?
The Guardian reports the last time an American man won the US Open was in 2003, a drought Shelton's win could potentially end.