Shelton beats Alcaraz in latest-ever US Open finish to reach semis

Carlos Alcaraz's US Open title defence ended in a dramatic five-set quarter-final loss to Ben Shelton, the latest finish in the tournament's history, which concluded at 03:34 local time. The match, which lasted four hours and 28 minutes, captivated a large crowd deep into the night on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The start of the night session was delayed by Tuesday's earlier matches, and the match did not begin until about 11pm in New York. Eighth seed Shelton defeated Alcaraz 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (10-7), securing his biggest win and most significant victory of his career. This was the first time Shelton had beaten a top-three player, ending a 17-match losing streak against Alcaraz. The win boosted American hopes of a first men's singles champion in 23 years, with Shelton advancing to the semi-finals alongside fellow American Frances Tiafoe. Alcaraz, the world number three, was competing at his first tournament since a lengthy injury lay-off, which included a recent win over 20th seed Tommy Paul. Despite exceeding expectations on his return, Alcaraz's lack of match fitness appeared to catch up with him in the high-octane encounter. Ben Shelton described the match as a 'war' and praised Alcaraz as 'one of the greatest champions in our sport'. The victory marked a modern classic in the tournament's history and will live long in the memory of those present.