Ben Shelton Beats Alcaraz in Marathon Match to Reach Semis

Dr. Janette Nesheiwat recently weighed in on health risks tied to marijuana use following Aryna Sabalenka's controversial stoppage of her U.S. Open match over alleged pot odors. She also reviewed shifting patterns in alcohol and weed consumption while highlighting potential dangers on the Fox Report. This medical perspective sits alongside a major upset that reshaped American tennis this week. Ben Shelton officially claimed the mantle of the leading American man in New York during early Wednesday hours.

The quarter-final battle lasted four hours and 28 minutes before Shelton beat seven-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7). The clock hit 3:33 a.m. in New York when the fifth set ended, pushing the total time past 2:50 a.m. This duration makes it the longest match ever recorded at a Grand Slam event. Shelton punched his ticket into the US Open semifinal for the second straight year. He now faces fellow American Francis Tiafoe on Friday in that round. The winner will meet an opponent in Sunday's final, ensuring United States representation there.

An American man has not lifted a Grand Slam trophy since Andy Roddick defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero at the 2003 US Open. Shelton fed off the energy of New York fans throughout the grueling contest. He admitted that crowd support kept him moving forward until the very last point. Shelton noted his coaches, team, family, friends, and the city of New York were all present in spirit or reality. He joked about hoping his sister does not have to wake up at 6 a.m. for work soon after the match ended late Tuesday night.

Shelton's heroics on Arthur Ashe Stadium snapped Alcaraz's eighteen-match winning streak in major tournaments. The Spaniard made life difficult at key moments, yet Shelton held him off eventually. Alcaraz committed fifty-three unforced errors which proved to be a critical difference in the end result. His serve remained strong as he recorded seven aces and just two double faults during this five-set thriller. This victory marked Shelton's first career win against Alcaraz. The Spaniard previously held a 3-0 record against the Florida native before their last meeting at Roland Garros in 2025.

The atmosphere inside USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center felt electric despite the late hour on September 9, 2026. Mark Harris wrote about these events for OutKick while cameras captured various moments from the court and suites. A group of influencers once forced a pause during play with cringeworthy photoshoots in hotel rooms nearby. Another camera crew caught ladies noticing a shirtless Alcaraz during earlier rounds. These side stories add color to the main event where history was made under the bright lights of Flushing Meadows.