Carlos Alcaraz’s title defence ended by Ben Shelton in latest US Open finish

The Spaniard was sick into a towel and gasping for breath but fought like a champion in a five-set marathon.

Ben Shelton (right) is congratulated by Carlos Alcaraz (Heather Khalifa/AP)

Wed, 09 Sep, 2026 - 08:47

Andy Sims

Carlos Alcaraz’s title defence was ended by Ben Shelton in the latest finish to a match in US Open history.

The Spaniard was sick into a towel and gasping for breath but fought like a champion in a five-set marathon.

However, Shelton held his nerve in a dramatic deciding-set tie-break to win 6-7 (5) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (7) in a match which finished at 3.33am local time.

Three long matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium earlier on Tuesday meant Alcaraz and Shelton did not step on to court until gone 11pm.

Martina Navratilova was not impressed at yet another early-morning finish, the former world number one posting on X: “Something has got to give… this is not OK and it is not normal… no other sport might start at 11AM or 11PM. In the same event.”