Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in five sets to reach the US Open semifinals in a match that ended at around 3:33 a.m. on September 9 in New York. According to VnExpress, it was the latest finish recorded in the tournament's history.
Shelton won 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 after four hours and 28 minutes. The deciding set went to a first-to-ten tiebreak, which the American took 10-7. After being outplayed in the fourth set, he protected every service game in the fifth.
The difference in unforced errors helped determine the outcome. Alcaraz struck 38 winners but made 53 unforced errors; Shelton recorded 34 winners and 35 errors. Strong serving also helped the home player maintain an advantage in shorter exchanges.
Play had begun at 11:05 p.m. because earlier matches ran long. The finish surpassed the previous 2:50 a.m. mark from Alcaraz's quarterfinal victory over Jannik Sinner in 2022.
Shelton reached the US Open semifinals for the second time, following his run in 2023. His next opponent is Frances Tiafoe, guaranteeing that an American player will appear in the men's singles final.