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Ben Shelton stunned defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in an extraordinary US Open quarter-final on Tuesday night.
The American won 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) after four hours and 28 minutes of action at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The match ended at 3:33 a.m. on Wednesday. It became the latest finish in US Open history.
Shelton’s victory ended Alcaraz’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak. It also ended the Spaniard’s hopes of defending his US Open title.
Alcaraz made a strong start after returning from a four-and-a-half-month absence caused by a right wrist injury.
The Spaniard won the opening set in a tiebreak.
Shelton responded with authority in the second set. He quickly took control and won it 6-1.
The American continued his momentum in the third set. He broke Alcaraz’s rhythm and moved within one set of a major upset.
Alcaraz fought back in the fourth set.
The defending champion levelled the match with a 6-1 set. That forced a deciding fifth set.
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Neither player could break the deadlock.
The match eventually went to a 10-point tiebreak. Shelton held his nerve and sealed the biggest win of his career.
Alcaraz congratulated Shelton after the match.
The Spaniard described the American as an “unbelievable player” and praised his power.
Alcaraz also highlighted Shelton’s serve as a major factor in the deciding moments.
Despite the defeat, Alcaraz said he was proud of his performance after returning from injury.
He had not played a competitive tournament since April before the US Open.
Shelton will now face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals.
Tiafoe also survived a five-set thriller against Alex Michelsen.
He came back from two sets down to win 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(10-6).
The all-American semi-final guarantees that a US player will reach the men’s singles final.
It also raises hopes of ending a long wait for an American men’s Grand Slam champion.
Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win the US Open. He claimed the title in 2003.
Earlier, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka survived a major test against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
Sabalenka won 7-6(7-1), 3-6, 7-6(10-7) in another three-set battle.
The Belarusian recovered after falling 4-2 behind in the deciding set.
She eventually sealed the match in the 10-point tiebreak with a second-serve ace.
Sabalenka will face Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.
Pegula defeated fellow American Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Tiafoe’s comeback added to an extraordinary day for American tennis.
Michelsen served for the match at 5-4 in the third set. Tiafoe survived and gradually found his rhythm.
The match lasted four hours and 38 minutes.
Pegula also needed a comeback against Navarro.
She won after a match featuring nine breaks of serve.
The results leave American players in both singles draws with strong hopes of reaching the finals.
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