Ben Shelton edges out Carlos Alcaraz in thrilling latest U.S. Open finish in history, tell me about this news in (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7577432/2026/09/09/us-open-alcaraz-shelton-latest-record-result-analysis/)

In an epic quarterfinal match at the 2026 U.S. Open, eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton defeated second seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five grueling sets: 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7).Record-Breaking Finish

• New Tournament Record: The match concluded at 3:33 a.m. local time on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, officially becoming the latest finish in U.S. Open history.
• Previous Record Surpassed: It broke the previous record of 2:50 a.m., which was set during the 2022 quarterfinals when Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner.
• Match Duration: The marathon contest lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes, having started just after 11:00 p.m. Tuesday night on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Match Highlights

• After dropping a tight opening-set tiebreak, Shelton shifted momentum by ripping off nine consecutive games to claim the second set and take a commanding 3-0 lead in the third.
• Alcaraz, returning to competition in his first tournament since April following a right wrist injury, showed tremendous grit to dominate the fourth set and force a decider.
• In the fifth set, neither player yielded a break, pushing the clash into a 10-point match tiebreak. Alcaraz reeled off four straight points to lead 5-3, but Shelton responded with fierce baseline hitting and huge servesultimately sealing the victory on a 146 mph unreturnable serve.

Key Takeaways and What Lies Ahead

• Ending the Streak: The defeat snapped Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak, which included championships at the 2025 U.S. Open and 2026 Australian Open.
• Milestone for Shelton: It marked Shelton’s first career victory over a top-five seed at a Grand Slam tournament and sent him to his third major semifinal.
• All-American Semifinal: Shelton advances to face fellow American Frances Tiafoe, who also overcame a two-set deficit to beat Alex Michelsen in a five-set marathon earlier that night. This matchup guarantees an American man will reach the U.S. Open singles final.