‘It was war’ Ben Shelton after historic US Open win against Carlos Alcaraz

USA’s Ben Shelton celebrates his win against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in New York on Tuesday. Pics/AFP

[popcorn number="3:33 am" desc="The time the quarter-final between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz ended; the latest finish at the US Open surpasses the previous record of 2:50 am, which involved Alcaraz beating Jannik Sinner in 2022" class="Default"]

[popcorn number="0-17" desc="Ben Shelton's win-loss record against Top-3 opponents before Wednesday's quarter-final" class="Default"]

[popcorn number="146 mph" desc="Speed of Ben Shelton's match-ending ace in the 10-7 super tie-break" class="Default"]

Ben Shelton had gone toe-to-toe with Carlos Alcaraz for five exhausting sets and finally at 3:33 am on Wednesday came the chance to end the US Open champion's title reign.

Shelton fired an ace at 146 mph, a ball that Alcaraz couldn't have gotten back even with fresh legs.

That gave Shelton a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory in a marathon tussle that was the latest-finishing match in US Open history.

"I'm tired. It was a war," Shelton said.

Carlos Alcaraz wears a dejected look during his defeat to Ben Shelton

"Carlos is one of the greatest champions of our sport. It was the most enjoyable match I've had in my career, for sure."

Alcaraz had his 18-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments ended in a match that lasted 4 hours, 28 minutes, after he fought deep into the night and early into the next morning in a bid to get his hands on the trophy again.

"I mean it was close, it was really close, so I was disappointed I didn't get the win at the end," the No. 2-seeded Alcaraz said.

"But I'm happy, I am proud of myself about how I fought. As I said, physically I was really tired but I found a way to push myself."

Shelton next plays No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe, who kept coming back until he had reached his third US Open semi-final, beating Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) on Tuesday.

The US is guaranteed to have a representative in Sunday's final as it seeks its first men's major title since Andy Roddick won the title here in 2003.

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