Which ended the defeat of Alcaraz
The Spanish No. 2 arrives on the back of a 25-0 first-set win at this tournament, an 18-match Grand Slam winning streak, and a career 13-0 record against American opponents at majors. All three of them ended in one night. It was also his second career five-set loss, following Matteo Berrettini in Melbourne in 2022.
It was not the kind of night his body was enjoying. Alcaraz was sick with his towel during the game. After winning the first set and taking a 1-0 lead, he lost nine games in a row, and the third set against him ended with a score of 6-1.
Shelton thanks the crowd for working in three hours
The American gave the victory to the stadium. “For me, it’s always about the people in the crowd, whether it’s my coaches and team over there or my family and friends over here. For New York City, they came out tonight until 3 a.m. chanting USA all the way, that’s what kept me going and that’s what got me this win tonight.”
Then he worried about them. “I always say this is the greatest sports city in the world. I say this is the biggest stadium in the world. I just hope my best friend and my sister don’t have to be there at work for three hours to six in the morning. It would be great of their employers to let them have the day off today.” And about the competitor? “It’s an absolute honor to share the court with Carlos.”
A day on Ash where nothing is over early
The match closed the quarter-final day, played entirely at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, with each of them going the distance. Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the deciding set to beat Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (7) in 2 hours and 22 minutes.
Frances Tiafoe recovered from two sets and a break down to beat Alex Michelsen, who was serving for the match, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in 4 hours and 39 minutes. Jessica Pegula lost the first set and broke through in the third, defeating Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 2 hours and 21 minutes.
Shelton plays Tiafoe in the semifinals, the first All-American men’s semifinal at the US Open since Taylor Fritz defeated Tiafoe two years ago, and the third at any Grand Slam this century. It equals Shelton’s best finish at a major since a semi-final here three years ago and at the Australian Open last year, and comes on the back of a summer in which he won a second ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal.
US Open 2026, men’s singles quarterfinals
A. Zverev (1) vs B. Van de Zandschulp – did not play
K. Khachanov vs A. Blockx (28) – did not play
F. Tiafoe (11) d. A. Michelsen: 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6)
B. Shelton (8) d. J. Alcaraz (2): 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7)
