Ben Shelton beats Carlos Alcaraz in U.S. Open’s latest-finishing match ever

Updated on: September 9, 2026 / 6:22 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Ben Shelton ended Carlos Alcaraz's title reign in the latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history, pulling out a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory in a marathon tussle that ended at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday.

The match started just after 11 p.m. and lasted 4 hours, 28 minutes, with thousands of fans staying until the end.

Shelton will now play No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe, a fellow American, meaning the U.S. is guaranteed to have a representative in Sunday's final as it seeks its first men's major title since Andy Roddick lifted a grand slam title at the U.S. Open in 2003.

Alcaraz, whose 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments ended Wednesday, had played in the previous latest finish at the U.S. Open when he outlasted Jannik Sinner in a match that finished at 2:50 a.m. That was in the 2022 quarterfinals en route to his first Grand Slam title at 19.

Shelton benefited from a home-crowd boost against the popular Alcaraz, with fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium chanting his name along with "USA! USA!"

"It's incredible," Shelton said. "I always say that this is the greatest…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/