Shelton stuns Alcaraz in marathon US Open quarter-final thriller

Ben Shelton advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open with a dramatic 6-7(5) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6(10-7) victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in New York. The American's triumph came after an extended battle that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday, marking the latest finish ever recorded at the storied Grand Slam tournament.

Shelton's win represents a significant upset in the competition, as Alcaraz arrived at Flushing Meadows as the defending champion and one of the tournament favourites. The match see-sawed dramatically across five sets, with neither player able to establish sustained dominance until the decisive final set went to a tie-break.

The lengthy tie-break in the fifth set proved decisive, with Shelton prevailing 10-7 in the climactic moments of the match. His composed performance under pressure in the final set, particularly after surrendering the fourth set 1-6, demonstrated resilience against one of tennis's top competitors.

Shelton's progression to the semi-finals marks a significant achievement for the American player and sets up compelling matches in the tournament's latter stages. The defending champion's exit opens the field for other contenders at this year's US Open.