Shelton stuns Alcaraz in late-night US Open epic to reach semifinals
The eighth-seeded American prevailed 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) after four hours and 28 minutes of intense action at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The match began close to 11 p.m. on Tuesday following delays caused by earlier matches on the night-session schedule. Despite the late hour, a large crowd remained inside the stadium to witness an extraordinary contest.
Shelton, 23, received a standing ovation from the crowd after sealing victory in the 10-point match tie-break.
"That was a war, an epic match, so physical," Shelton said after the match. "Carlos is one of the greatest champions in our sport already at 23 years old. It's ridiculous some of the stuff he comes up with sometimes—the most enjoyable match that I've had in my career, for sure."
The victory ended Shelton's difficult run against top-ranked opposition. He had failed to beat a top-three player in his previous 17 attempts and had also lost all three of his previous meetings with Alcaraz.
The win also strengthened American hopes of ending a 23-year wait for a home men's singles champion at the US Open. Andy Roddick was the last American man to lift the trophy in New York, in 2003.
An American finalist is now guaranteed, with Shelton set to face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in Friday's semi-final.
For Alcaraz, the defeat brought an end to his title defence after an impressive return from a lengthy injury lay-off. The world number three had been playing his first tournament in more than four months after suffering a wrist injury and had exceeded expectations by reaching the quarter-finals, including a straight-sets victory over 20th seed Tommy Paul.
However, his lack of match fitness appeared to become a factor during the physically demanding encounter with Shelton.
Alcaraz battled back after losing the second and third sets, forcing a deciding set and pushing Shelton all the way. The Spaniard ultimately fell short in a tense match tie-break.
"It was close. So I'm just not going to be disappointed about not getting the win at the end," Alcaraz said.
"I'm just proud about myself, about how I fought. I leave the court with a smile, healthy, and this is what I needed."
Shelton's victory marks a major breakthrough on the biggest stage and keeps alive American hopes of a home-grown men's singles champion in New York.
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