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Ben Shelton Stuns Alcaraz in Historic 5-Set US Open Thriller

PUBLISHED Sep 9, 2026, 10:21 AM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 24

Left 17%

Center 79%

Right 4%

Sources: 24

American tennis player Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. The match concluded at 3:33 a.m. Eastern Time on September 9, 2026, establishing a new record for the latest-finishing match in tournament history. Shelton secured the victory with a score of 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 after four hours and twenty-eight minutes of play on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The encounter featured powerful serves reaching up to 240 kilometers per hour from Shelton and a decisive ten-point super tiebreak in the final set. With this win, Shelton advanced to the next round while overcoming an initial 0-17 career record against top-three ranked opponents. The contest drew significant attention from fans and media outlets across the United States due to its historical late finish and competitive intensity.

By Daniel Hayes | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On September 5, 2022, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in record late finish.
On September 9, 2026, match began at 11:05 p.m. Eastern Time due to delays.
On September 9, 2026, Alcaraz won the first set in tight tiebreak.
On September 9, 2026, Shelton dominated the second and third sets easily.
On September 9, 2026, Alcaraz claimed the fourth set to force a decider.
On September 9, 2026, fifth set proceeded without a single service break.
On September 9, 2026, Shelton won super tiebreak to seal historic upset.
On September 9, 2026, match concluded at 3:33 a.m. setting new tournament record.
On September 10, 2026, sports analysts evaluated historic implications of late finish.
In coming days, Shelton will compete in subsequent tournament rounds.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: American sports fans engaged heavily with historic late-night tennis broadcast.
Possible long-term US impact: Tournament scheduling policies face increased scrutiny regarding player rest times.
Most affected groups: Tennis fans, US Open organizers, and American sports media followers.
Reader priority: Prioritize official league announcements and verified tournament statistics across platforms.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 24
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 4
Neutral:: 19

Explain Framing

Left: Focus centered on social equity and tournament scheduling worker safety. Center: Emphasis maintained strictly on match statistics and tournament records broken. Right: Highlighted individual grit and competitive triumph within national sports culture.