Shelton outlasts Alcaraz in five-set thriller to make US Open semifinals

Shelton outlasts Alcaraz in five-set thriller to create US Open semifinals.

Key points

• Jessica Pegula is back in the US Open semifinals after beating Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
• The previous latest match – between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in 2022 – concluded at 2: 50 a.m.
• 3 seed Jessica Pegula reached the semifinals for the third consecutive year, outlasting fellow American Emma Navarro in the second women's quarterfinal in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
• Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton have taken the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium at around 11 p.m.
• Pegula, who reached the US Open final in 2024 is bidding for her first Grand Slam title.

Shelton outlasts Alcaraz in five-set thriller to create US Open semifinals. Elizabeth Flores, Scooby Axson, Victoria Hernandez, Ellen J. Horrow USA TODAY.

Ben Shelton stuns Alcaraz, advances to US Open semifinal showdown with Tiafoe.

Ben Shelton takes down defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller and advances to an all-American U.S. Open semifinal against Frances Tiafoe in NYC on Sept. 11.

NEW YORK – The first day of quarterfinals at the 2026 US Open produced one of the most epic slate of matches in tennis history.

With the first quarterfinal starting at 11: 30 a.m. ET and the last one ending at 3: 33 a.m. ET, all four matches – two men's quarterfinals and two women's – went the distance, ending in decisive final sets. When it was all over, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. While No, 3 Jessica Pegula advanced to the women's semifinals. 8 Ben Shelton and No. 11 Frances Tiafoe secured spots in the men's semis.

In the final match of the night, that spanned 4 hours and 28 minutes, Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7), ending the latest night in US Open history. The previous latest match – between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in 2022 – concluded at 2: 50 a.m. ET.

Shelton reached the US Open semifinals for the second time in his career (2023) with arguably the biggest win of his career by beating No. 2 seed Alcaraz, a two-time US Open champion and winner of seven Grand Slam titles. Shelton will face Tiafoe in an All-American semifinal on Friday, Sept. 11.

"It's incredible. I always say this is the greatest sports city in the world, I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world. I'm just so grateful, so blessed, " Shelton remarked in his on-court interview. "Sharing the court with Carlos is an absolute honor, and I cherish every moment I have out here."

No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula reached the semifinals for the third consecutive year, outlasting fellow American Emma Navarro in the second women's quarterfinal in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Navarro, the No. 26 seed, appeared to be in control of the match early until Pegula stormed back in the second and third sets to advance to the semifinals with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Notably, the men's quarterfinals began with an epic comeback. No. 11 Frances Tiafoe came storming back from a two-set deficit to defeat unseeded Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) in another thrilling All-American quarterfinal.

During the final set, Michelsen raced out to a 3-0 lead, frustrating Tiafoe so much that he slammed his racket in frustration after an unforced error. Again, Tiafoe would roar back, converting a break point with a powerful ace to square the match at three. The final set eventually headed to a tiebreaker, where the experienced Tiafoe took control, completing the epic comeback.

In practice, the grueling four-hour, 38-minute slugfest concluded when Tiafoe prevailed in a tiebreak, claiming victory on a gorgeous forehand winner. MEET ALEX MICHELSEN: The surprise American quarterfinalist at US Open.

In the first women's quarterfinal of the day, Aryna Sabalenka will keep the No. 1 ranking for at least one more day and is two victories from a three-peat at the US Open after a surviving 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) quarterfinal thriller against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Sabalenka applied an efficient serve, something that was missing at times in her fourth-round victory over Taylor Townsend, to sprint out a 3-0 lead in the first set, before she let her serve and emotions bring her down.

In the ninth game, and Sabalenka serving for the set, she let out a loud scream after a double fault, and was subsequently broken by Noskova during her string of taking three consecutive games to even the match and take it to a tiebreak.

In practice, the four-time Grand Slam winner blitzed through the tiebreak, but lost all momentum during a troublesome second set, where her forehand began to go awry. Noskova, in her first US Open quarterfinal, began to take advantage with her pinpoint serves and sent the match to a deciding set on her fourth opportunity, with one of her 18 aces that Sabalenka didn't even bother to reach.

When she was broken in the fifth game of the third set, Sabalenka crouched down and let out another scream after an unforced error. Noskova seemed to be in control at the point up 4-2, but Sabalenka rushed back to take three straight games.

Sabalenka will create her sixth straight US Open semifinal appearance and will face Pegula in the semifinals on Thursday, Sept. 10.

Scroll below for the latest updates and highlights from the US Open quarterfinals. WIMBLEDON: Takes stand against influencers after disruptions at US Open. Stream the 2026 US Open on Fubo. Carlos Alcaraz vs Ben Shelton. Shelton wins five-set thriller to advance to semifinals.

Ben Shelton won a five-set thriller in Arthur Ashe Stadium in a match that began after 11 p.m. ET and concluded at 3: 33 a.m. ET to secure his spot in the US Open semifinals. Shelton, the No. 8 seed, outdueled Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) to end the longest night in US Open history. Alcaraz, Shelton goes to fifth-set tiebreaker.

After more than four hours on court, the final quarterfinal of the day will head to a fifth-set tiebreaker to decide whether Carlos Alcaraz or Ben Shelton will advance to the US Open semifinals. The tiebreaker is first to 10 points. Alcaraz, Shelton on serve in the fifth set.

Ben Shelton went up 3-2 on Carlos Alcaraz in the fifth set, but the pair remained on serve with no advantage yet to either player. Alcaraz storms back to win fourth set.

For context, the last quarterfinal of the day, like the first three before it, will go to a decisive final set as Carlos Alcaraz steamrolled Ben Shelton 6-1 in the fourth set. While showing dominant form, shelton looked like he had all the momentum after winning the second and third sets, but Alcaraz regained his composure. Shelton, meanwhile, suffered a major let down and let a massive opportunity to end the match in four sets slip by. Alcaraz gets early momentum in fourth set.

Carlos Alcaraz, hoping to fourth his quarterfinal match with Ben Shelton to a decisive fifth set, took an early 3-0 lead in the fourth set to slow Shelton's momentum. Alcaraz held serve in the first game of the set, broke Shelton in the second then won third game on serve at love. Shelton wins third set to take 2-1 lead.

Ben Shelton held Carlos Alcaraz at bay in the third set to go up up 2-1 in their quarterfinal match. After Shelton scored an early break over the defending US Open champion, Alacaraz had a chance to break back with the American serving up 5-3. But Shelton stood solid fending off the Spaniard to claim the third set 6-3. Shelton opens up third-set lead over Alcaraz.

Ben Shelton fended off break points in the third game of the third set then battled back to win the game and consolidate the break. Shelton holds a 3-0 lead in the third set and has now won nine consecutive games dating back to the second set. Shelton cruises in second set to even match.

After breaking Carlos Alcaraz's serve in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead, Ben Shelton did not drop another game. The No. 8 seed cruised 6-1 to even the quarterfinal match at one set apiece, breaking Alcaraz in the final game of the set. Shelton will serve to open the third. Shelton earns early break in second set.

American Ben Shelton took a 2-1 lead early in the second set, breaking Carlos Alcaraz in the third game when the Spaniard hit a forehand long. Shelton, who squandered four breaks points in Alcaraz's first service game of the set and then another in the third game finally converted his opportunity. Alcaraz snags first set in thriller with Shelton.

Carlos Alcaraz takes the first set 7-6 (7-5) over Ben Shelton in what's already another thrilling match. The tiebreaker had both players sprinting throughout the court, stretching their limbs to their fullest extent. Despite playing from behind for most of the set, the defending champion came out on top with some solid serving and athletic play. Alcaraz, Shelton heading into tiebreak.

Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton are battling in a tiebreak for the first set. They are tied 6-6 and Shelton is serving. Alcaraz, Shelton battling early.

Meanwhile, the last match of the night has indications that it'll be another thriller. Ben Shelton went up early and is on top of Carlos Alcaraz 4-3. But the defending champ has been answering the American star almost game for game. Alcaraz vs Shelton underway.

Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton have taken the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium at around 11 p.m. ET. They are playing for a spot in the semifinals. Jessica Pegula vs Emma Navarro. Pegula moves on to semifinals.

Jessica Pegula is back in the US Open semifinals after beating Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Pegula, the No. 3 seed, reaches her fourth career Grand Slam semifinal and will face top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday night. Pegula evens the match.

We are going to a third set on Arthur Ashe for Pegula and Navarro. It means that Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz have to wait a little bit longer to take the court for their quarterfinal match. Pegula won the second set 6-4 after breaking Navarro in the last game with a forehand winner. Navarro takes first set.

As she took it 6-3, serving for the set, Navarro obtained it done when another backhand unforced error by Pegula went straight into the net. Navarro uses quick start to take lead.

Navarro obtained out to a 2-0 lead, but Pegula battled back to tie the match lead before the No. 26 took three straight games to take control of the match. Frances Tiafoe vs Alex Michelsen. Tiafoe claims five-set victory.

Tiafoe stormed all the way from a two-set deficit to hand Alex Michelsen a crushing defeat 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 in front of a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. Tiafoe will play the winner of Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz in the late match on Ashe. Tiafoe forces fifth set.

Tiafoe has all the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd hype after forcing a fifth and deciding set. The No. 11 seed takes the fourth set, 6-3. Tiafoe takes commanding lead in fourth set.

After facing a 3-0 deficit, Michelsen battled back to finally break back on his fifth opportunity, but the 22-year-old lost momentum when he was broken on his next serve and is now down 4-2. Tiafoe fights back to force a fourth set.

For now, shelton outlasts Alcaraz in five-set thriller to make US Open semifinals remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.