Key events
Fifth set: *Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 1-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz holds comfortably, closing it out with a 124mph ace. It’s 2.34am, the lower bowel of Ashe is nearly full, there’s plenty of folks still upstairs and, yes, they’re still selling Honey Deuces (though it seems most stands have run out of the souvenir cups).
Fifth set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton falls behind love-15 serving to open the fifth set, but gets the better of a 13-shot rally before hitting a unreturnable serve for 30-15. He’s able to hold from there and “U-S-A! U-S-A!” chants break out as the players change ends with Bad Bunny playing from the arena soundsystem.
Alcaraz wins fourth set, 6-2!
Fourth set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6 Alcaraz
Alcaraz holds at love and we’re headed to a fifth and deciding set!
Shelton finally looked vulnerable behind the enormous serve that had carried him through the middle two sets. Alcaraz is now three for 10 on break points, while Shelton has dropped five service games overall. It’s 2.21am in New York, we’re going five, and the US Open’s all-time latest finish of 2.50am is very much in play.
Alcaraz breaks in sixth game of fourth set!
Fourth set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-5 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton goes down love-30, then 30-40 and break point down, gifting Alcaraz the break of serve with a scratchy backhand. Alcaraz will now serve to force a fifth set.
Fourth set: *Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-4 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz finds himself in a love-30 hole after two unforced errors, but wins a couple of medium-length rallies for 30-all. He gets to game point with a forehand winner, but Shelton answers with a forehand winner down the line for deuce. From there Alcaraz reels off two quick points to nail down the hold.
Fourth set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-3 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
A stress-free hold for Shelton, who crushes a 123mph ace along the way.
Fourth set: *Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 0-3 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
We’re past 2am here in Ashe and Alcaraz backs up the break with a hold at love. More “Olé, olé, olé” chants.
Alcaraz breaks in second game of fourth set!
Fourth set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 0-2 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Now it’s Shelton who is pressured on his serve, making back-to-back unforced errors from 15-all to go double break point down. He saves the first with another wild exchange of volleys at the net, but blinks on the second with a backhand error to end an eight-shot rally. “Olé, olé, olé” chants ring down from the loge seats in Ashe as the crowd tries to will Alcaraz on.
For anybody wondering, the latest finish in US Open history is 2.50am, set by Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in their 2022 quarter-final. Alcaraz won 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3 after 5hr 15min.
Fourth set: *Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 0-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz falls behind 15-30 on hi serve, then 30-40 and break point down. But he rattles off three quick points to escape with the hold to open the fourth set.
Here’s a glimpse of the US Open grounds at 1.40am, with Shelton and Alcaraz still going inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Fountain Plaza, normally one of the busiest thoroughfares at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, is almost completely deserted, the concessions shuttered and only a handful of people still milling around.
Shelton wins third set, 6-3!
Third set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 6-3 Alcaraz
At 15-all, Shelton pounds a 124mph serve before coming to net and finishing with a muscular forehand winner. He’s two points from the set. Alcaraz answers with a sharply angled backhand winner from the baseline for 30-all. Then, another truly extraordinary point ends after a trade of apparent volley winners, when Alcaraz hits a blistering forehand winner moving into the backcourt for break point at 30-40. A massive point, this. And Shelton gets the better of Alcaraz over a 19-shot rally to save it, bringing the crowd to its feet once again! Deuce. Shelton then outlasts Alcaraz in an 11-shot exchange for set point and the Spaniard looks worse for wear, having been run ragged in these extended rallies. And Shelton forces Alcaraz into another forced error to take the third set in 48 minutes!
Unlike the second-set blowout, this was a much sterner test. The American protected his serve superbly, saving all three break points he faced in the set and losing only seven points on serve altogether. Through three sets he has saved six of seven break points and held in 13 of 14 service games.
The serve remains terrifying – still topping out at 149mph – but Shelton has been winning this match with more than raw velocity. He’s getting 66% of his first serves in and has won 68% of those points, while an extraordinary 39% of his second serves have gone unreturned.
Third set: *Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 5-3 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz races to 40-love on his serve, then makes it complicated for himself with his 36th and 37th unforced errors, both off the forehand, for 40-30. But he’s able to hold from there and Shelton will serve for the set.
Third set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 5-2 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz strolls to a stress-free hold and Alcaraz will serve to stay in the third set.
Third set: *Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 4-2 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz finds himself in trouble on his serve again, but rattles off three quick points to hold from 15-30 down.
Third set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 4-1 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton holds comfortably to stay in front. And with new balls coming on court after the change of ends, the American will have the chance to serve out the set with a little extra zip.
Third set: *Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 3-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz holds at love, punctuating it with a barbaric “Va-mos!” after breaking Shelton’s run of nine straight games won.
Third set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 3-0 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton goes down love-30 then 15-40 on his serve, giving Alcaraz two chances to break right back. Shelton saves them both for deuce, then uncorks a 142mph ace that draws more audible oohs for game point. But Alcaraz follows by winning the new point of the night – new point of the tournament? – winning a sensational 18-point exhange with a backhand volley winner that brings the reamining crowd of several thousand fans to its feet. Deuce, then two quick points for Shelton to back up the break. That’s nine straight games to the American.
Shelton breaks in second game of third set!
Third set: *Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 2-0 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz falls behind love-30 on his serve before fighting back to deuce. Shelton then produces a break point by winning a 12-shot exchange and converts it when Alcaraz sends a volley into the net for his 33rd unforced error of the night (against 17 winners).
Third set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1, 1-0 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton, dear reader, is on a heater. He closes out a love hold with back-to-back aces of 123mph and 136mph. He’s won 16 of the last 21 points of this match.
Shelton wins second set, 6-1!
Second set: Shelton 6-7, 6-1 Alcaraz
Alcaraz falls behind 15-30, then 30-40, and Shelton has a set point. And the Spaniard double-faults! Shelton has taken the second set in 49 minutes and we’re level at one set apiece as the clock creeps toward 1am inside Arthur Ashe Stadium!
The biggest change from the first set to the second was Shelton’s return. He was especially ruthless whenever Alcaraz missed his first serve, winning 18 of 32 points against the Spaniard’s second delivery across the first two sets. Meanwhile his own second serve remained remarkably sturdy: Shelton won 70% of those points, compared with 44% for Alcaraz.
And Alcaraz helped him along. The Spaniard’s error count ballooned as the set got away from him: through two sets he had committed 32 unforced errors to Shelton’s 13.
Second set: Shelton 6-7, 5-1 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton consolidates with a clean service game and Alcaraz will serve to stay in the second set.
Shelton breaks in fifth game of second set!
Second set: *Shelton 6-7, 4-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz is pushed to 30-all on his serve. His first-serve percentage has dropped from 65% in the first set to 50% in the second. After they unforced errors for deuce, Alcaraz rips a searing forehand winner from the baseline before missing a forehand on the next point for deuce. Then Alcaraz makes another unforced error off the forehand to give Shelton a break point chance, only for Shelton to put a forehand into the net. A second break point for Shelton comes moments later … and Alcaraz double-faults!
Shelton had never broken Alcaraz’s serve in their eight previous sets played. He’s broken it three times so far tonight.
Second set: Shelton 6-7, 3-1 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton backs up the break with brio, capping a love hold with a 148mph ace down the middle. Good grief!
Shelton breaks in third game of second set!
Second set: *Shelton 6-7, 2-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
A half-chance for Shelton as Alcaraz goes behind love-30 on his serve. But the Spaniard rattles off three straight points, including a gorgeous forehand winner for 40-30. Alcaraz then nets a backhand for deuce, followed by an Alcaraz double fault that gives Shelton a break-point chance. Alcaraz saves it in style hitting multiple winners over a nine-shot rally before finally nailing it down with a sharply angled backhand volley winner. Then Alcaraz misses on an overhand forehand, giving Shelton another break point. And this time Shelton converts it when Alcaraz sends a forehand long early in the rally.
Second set: Shelton 6-7, 1-1 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton races to 40-15, but a couple of errors makes it 40-all and sudden this service game has gotten awfully uncomfortable for the American. Shelton is forced into a forehand error, giving the Spaniard a break-point look. He saves it, but moments later Alcaraz has another. Shelton then wins an aggressive serve-and-volley point to save that one, too. Shelton then mixes in a double fault, only his first of the night, to give Alcaraz a third break point … and serves himself out of trouble with a 142mph ace. From there Shelton holds, surviving a grueling 16-point marathon.
Second set: *Shelton 6-7, 0-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Hope for Shelton right out of the gate as Alcaraz goes behind love-15, then 15-40 on his serve. Two break-point chances and the Spaniard saves them both for deuce. Shelton then rips a forehand winner for a third break point but Alcaraz saves it with a forehand winner of his own. A second deuce. Then a third. Alcaraz then mishits a forehand to give Shelton a fourth break point before saving it with a highlight-reel backhand winner on the pass. He holds from there, closing it out with a 117mph ace down the middle. That’s a brutal sequence of missed opportunities for Shelton going back to early in the first-set tiebreaker.
A quick mailbag check during the setbreak. Peter Oh, longtime friend of the MBM, checks in via email:
Hi Bryan,
I’ve been watching a bunch of movies from the 1970s so forgive me for asking.
Is Mick Jagger in the house? Gimme Shelton.
Clint Eastwood in attendance? Escape from Alcaraz.
Keep them coming. Could a Carlos Encounters of the Third Kind be afoot?
Alcaraz wins first set, 7-6 (5)!
First set tiebreak: Shelton 5-7 Alcaraz
Alcaraz appears to have rediscovered his forehand, ripping a pair of searing winners off that side for a set point. Shelton serves wide and another sensational point ensues, with the American hitting a tweener off an Alcaraz lob while in full retreat to keep the point alive, before ultimately dumping a forehand into the net to let the opening set slip away 61 minutes.
A tough pill to swallow for Shelton but there was precious little between them. Shelton’s serve was every bit the weapon advertised – topping out at a blistering 149mph – and the American repeatedly came forward behind it, winning eight of nine points at the net and six of seven when serving and volleying.
But Alcaraz was far more effective once he got Shelton’s first serve back in play, winning 12 of 23 return points against it, while Shelton managed only eight of 26 against the Spaniard’s first delivery.
First set tiebreak: Shelton 5-4 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton sprays a backhand from the baseline and will serve at 4-3. Alcaraz goes for a drop shot early in the baseline rally – probably too early – and it fails to clear the net. Shelton two points from the set with the next point on his racket. But after a 142mph serve, Alcaraz gets neutral in the rally and Shelton biffs a backhand. They’re back on serve with Alcaraz serving at 4-5.
First set tiebreak: Shelton 4-2 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz makes another unforced error off the forehand and now it’s Shelton up a minibreak, serving at 2-1. Alcaraz gets it back soon after to serve at 2-3. Alcaraz falters on yet another forehand and the players will change ends.
First set tiebreak: Shelton 1-1 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz wins the first point on Shelton’s serve to immediately go up a minibreak. But Shelton responds with the point of the night – the point of the tournament? – a hyperkinetic 12-shot exchange that sees both players cover almost every inch of the court and make at least three impossible shots before Shelton puts away an overhand smash for 1-all. The fans are on their feet!
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Shelton breaks in 12th game of first set!
First set: Shelton 6-6 Alcaraz
Just when it seems like the first set is a fait accompli, Alcaraz mixes in a couple of unforced errors for love-30. He recovers with a forehand winner for 15-30, but Alcaraz then sails a forehand far past the baseline for 15-40. It’s Shelton’s first break-point chance of the match and he’s got two of them. And he converts the first when Alcaraz overcooks another forehand badly! We’re headed to a tiebreak.
Alcaraz breaks in 11th game of first set!
First set: Shelton 5-6 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
A tightly wound opening set is in danger of going sideways for Shelton in the blink of an eye. He quickly goes down love-40 on his serve, giving Alcaraz three chances at a break point. He needs only one of them, forcing the American into a forehand error from the baseline. He will serve for the set after the change of ends.
First set: *Shelton 5-5 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz holds at love for the first time tonight.
First set: Shelton 5-4 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Maybe the first truly big point of this match at 4-all, 30-30. And Alcaraz blinks first, dumping a forehand into the net. Shelton then holds after getting the better of Alcaraz over an 11-shot rally, punctuating it with a small fist pump and a shot along the baseline.
First set: *Shelton 4-4 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz appears on the verge of another drama-free hold at 40-15, having won 16 of the first 22 points on his racket. But he double-faults. Then he double-faults again for deuce. A chance for Shelton here. But Alcaraz snuffs it out in a hurry, peeling off two quick points to escape with the hold.
First set: Shelton 4-3 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Another pressure point for Shelton as he goes down 15-30 on his serve, but he’s able to serve his way out of trouble. We’re still on serve heading into the business end of the opening set.
First set: *Shelton 3-3 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Another stress-free hold for Alcaraz, who’s won eight of 12 points on his first serve (67%) and four of five on his second (80%).
First set: Shelton 3-2 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
An even breezier service game from Shelton, who holds to love. During the changeover, the cameras pan to a few of the celebrities in the audience. There’s Kevin Hart taking it in from a suite. And, of course, there’s USA and Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, Shelton’s girlfriend, watching from his player box. We’ve also heard Simone Biles is in the building somewhere.
First set: *Shelton 2-2 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz goes behind on his serve for the first time at love-15 but holds comfortably from there.
First set: Shelton 2-1 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton faces his first pressure point of the night at 30-all, but comes to net with Alcaraz out of position and deftly puts away a volley winner. Shelton then closes out the hold with a searing inside-out forehand winner from the baseline to settle a seven-shot exchange. The shot-making ignites the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd and Shelton obliges them with a fist pump.
First set: *Shelton 1-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz races out to 40-15, then gets caught flat-footed on a Shelton drop shot, which is something you don’t see very often. No matter. On the next point Alcaraz pounds a serve out wide that Shelton can’t return and closes out the easy hold.
First set: Shelton 1-0 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Shelton drops the opening point on his serve with an unforced error off the forehand, but follows it with a 145mph ace down the middle that draws audible oohs from the crowd. Shelton then gets to game point before netting a forehand from the baseline for 40-30, but Alcaraz goes long on a return on the next point and Shelton holds.
Not much longer now. The players have gone through their warm-up. We should be under way any moment now with Shelton set to serve first.
Here is probably the clearest measure of the task facing Shelton tonight: he is 0-17 against top-three opponents. His overall record against the top five is 4-21, with wins over Casper Ruud, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz – but never anyone ranked in the top three. Alcaraz, currently world No 3, would therefore represent the biggest win of his career.
What’s more, Alcaraz has never lost to an American at a grand slam: 13 wins from 13 matches. That includes his five-set victories over Frances Tiafoe at this tournament in 2022 and Wimbledon two years later, as well as his four-set win over Shelton at Roland Garros last year.
Jessica Pegula has just finished off Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the US Open semi-finals. The No 3 seed advances to a hotly anticipated showdown with top seed Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday night. That means we should see Shelton and Alcaraz on court shortly after 11pm local time.
Preamble
Good evening from Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton are set to close out Tuesday’s US Open night session with a peach of a quarter-final.
Alcaraz is the defending champion, the No 2 seed and increasingly looks as though his four-and-a-half-month absence with a wrist injury never happened. He enters tonight on an 18-match winning streak at grand-slam level, having won last year’s US Open and this year’s Australian Open, and is now an eye-popping 31-1 at the majors since the start of the 2025 French Open.
The numbers in New York are similarly formidable. Alcaraz owns a 28-3 career record at the US Open, a .903 winning percentage that is the best by any man in the Open era, better than Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. He has reached at least the quarter-finals in five of his six appearances here, winning the title in 2022 and again last year.
But Shelton is no doormat. The 23-year-old American is 12-2 on hard courts this summer and won his second Masters 1000 title last month in Montreal without dropping a set. He has already taken out Hubert Hurkacz, Denis Shapovalov and Stefanos Tsitsipas during this run, brushing aside the latter in straight sets on Sunday to reach his third major quarter-final.
There is one glaring hole on Shelton’s résumé. He is 0-17 against top-three opponents and has lost all three previous meetings with Alcaraz. Their most recent encounter, at Roland Garros last year, was at least competitive: the Spaniard won 7-6 (8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
And tonight the American has something those previous meetings lacked: Arthur Ashe Stadium in full throat. Shelton first announced himself here with his semi-final run three years ago and will be trying to become only the second American man in the past 20 years to beat a top-three opponent at the US Open.
Frances Tiafoe is already waiting in the last four on Friday after his extraordinary comeback against Alex Michelsen earlier today. Will it be two US players in a row on Alcaraz’s second-week menu, or will Shelton ensure an all-American semi-final in the bottom half of the draw?
Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro are currently late in the third set of their quarter-final match on Ashe. Once they finish it should be about 20 minutes before Shelton and Alcaraz take the court.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s his report from Frances Tiafoe’s epic comeback earlier today at Flushing Meadows.
