New York — On Wednesday morning, American tennis hopeful Ben Shelton emerged as the new face of U.S. men’s tennis after a grueling quarterfinal victory over Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open. The match, which stretched past 2:50 a.m. local time, became the longest contest in Grand Slam history, lasting four hours and 28 minutes.
Match highlights
Shelton fell behind early, dropping the first set in a tiebreak 6‑7 (5). He responded emphatically, dominating the next two sets 6‑1 and 6‑3, before Alcaraz rallied to take the fourth 6‑1. The decisive fifth set was a nail‑biter, with Shelton prevailing 7‑6 (10‑7) after a series of clutch points.
The Florida native’s serve proved decisive, delivering seven aces and committing only two double faults. Alcaraz, who entered the match on an 18‑match Grand Slam winning streak, struggled with 53 unforced errors, a key factor in the final outcome.
What the win means for American tennis
By advancing to the semifinals for the second straight year, Shelton guarantees an American presence in the upcoming final. He will face fellow U.S. player Frances Tiafoe on Friday, setting up an all‑American showdown that could revive U.S. men’s tennis after a long title drought—the last Grand Slam won by an American was Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph.
Shelton credited the enthusiastic New York crowd for his stamina. “It’s always about the people in the crowd, whether it’s my coaches and my team over there, all my family and friends over here, or the city of New York,” he said in his post‑match interview. “They showed up tonight till 3 a.m. with USA chants until the very end, that’s what kept me going.”
Looking ahead
The semifinal matchup against Tiafoe promises another high‑stakes encounter. Both players have expressed confidence that American fans will continue to support them deep into the night, underscoring the growing excitement around U.S. men’s tennis.
Alcaraz, despite the loss, praised Shelton’s resilience. “He played a great match, fought hard, and deserved the win,” the Spaniard said, acknowledging the intensity of the five‑set battle.
With the US Open entering its final stages, tennis enthusiasts across the nation will be watching closely to see if an American can finally break the 23‑year Grand Slam title drought.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
