“Shelton is an unbelievable participant,” Carlos Alcaraz mentioned after early-morning epic.
Richard PagliaroSeptember 9, 20263 minute learn
By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Picture credit score: Jon Buckle/ROLEX
NEW YORK—Collaborators in creating Grand Slam glory, Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz confirmed fearless dedication to the shot-making trigger.
A protracted evening’s journey into early morning noticed Shelton out-duel Alcaraz, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) in a completely wild US Open quarterfinal thrill trip that ended at 3:33 a.m. with a bang.
Shelton threw down an exclamation level to historical past.
Slashing a match-ending ace, Shelton made historical past ending Alcaraz’s US Open reign and changing into the primary American to defeat the seven-time Grand Slam champion in a significant, Alcaraz summed up the two-time Canadian Open champion’s tremendous energy merely.
“Shelton is a beast,” the previous world No. 1 mentioned.
Certainly, Massive Ben went Massive Beast mode at crunch time.
Alcaraz mentioned Shelton’s stinging serve, imposing physicality and unrelenting assault took a device on him, significantly given this US Open was his first match in four-and-a-half months. Shelton stormed by way of 9 straight video games in a single stretch, ultimately turning a 6-7, 0-1 deficit right into a 6-7, 6-1, 6-3 lead.
“After the third set, bodily I used to be actually drained, however you already know, I discovered a solution to push myself up and, you already know, bodily giving further,” mentioned Alcaraz. “Within the fifth set I simply began to really feel higher and higher, however you
know, I used to be taking part in in opposition to… he’s a beast.
“Shelton is an unbelievable participant, highly effective. He simply managed easy methods to play actually, rather well in each state of affairs, so credit score to him.
“However, you already know, I go away the courtroom joyful. I go away the courtroom with a smile, wholesome, and that is what I wanted
Shelton arrange an all-American blockbuster semifinal vs. good pal Frances Tiafoe, who additionally confirmed grit and guts preventing previous SoCal’s Alex Michelsen in one other fifth-set tiebreaker thriller.
The excellent news for Alcaraz: his proper wrist, which had sidelined him since clay-court season, held as much as the blunt-force trauma Shelton poses, the pair conjured a number of the most insanely thrilling rallies you’ll see in New York and Alcaraz, regardless of that nine-game spiral really lifted his stage and vitality dragging the match all the way in which to the restrict.
Finally, Alcaraz mentioned dealing with Shelton’s wrecking ball serve for four-and-a-half hours was a draining train.
“This time, I imply, when you’re attempting to combat and attempting to beat all the issues you may need bodily, drained loads,” mentioned Alcaraz, who performed his first occasion since withdrawing from Barcelona in April because of a proper wrist harm. “And clearly when, you already know, he’s serving, he places quite a lot of stress on you.
“You desirous about, all proper, attempting to place the return in. You already know, it’s an unknown if you will play the purpose or if he’s going to get a free level with the serve. I believe in these moments he takes quite a lot of benefit with the serve. Not any excuse, however I might say this is a vital weapon in these moments.”
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