Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is out of US Open 2026. Ben Shelton defeated him 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a five-set marathon match and reached the semi-finals. This match lasted for 4 hours 28 minutes and ended at 3.33 in the morning. In this way it has become the longest running match in the US Open.
Earlier, Alcaraz was also involved in the longest match in the US Open. He defeated Yannick Sinner in the quarterfinals of 2022 and then won his first Grand Slam title at the age of 19. This match ended at 2:50 in the morning.
In the semi-finals, Shelton will face 11th seed Frances Tiafoe, who defeated Alex Michelson 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6). Tiafoe reached the semi-finals of this tournament for the third time. With Shelton and Tiafoe facing each other in the semi-finals, it has been ensured that an American male player will reach the final. No American male player has won a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick won the title in 2003.
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Alcaraz reached the semi-finals of the Grand Slam tournament for the third time
Shelton made it to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the third time. Earlier, he had reached the last-4 of the 2023 US Open and 2025 Australian Open. Shelton took control of the match from the beginning of the second set by winning nine consecutive games. Alcaraz, playing in his first tournament since April due to a right wrist injury, came back to win the fourth set. He looked a little unwell. He even vomited before the start of the final set.
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Sabalenka and Pegula also reached the semi-finals
In the women's category, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula were successful in reaching the last-4. When Sabalenka felt that her dream of winning her third consecutive US Open title and maintaining the number one ranking in the women's category was coming to an end, she proved that she was not going to give up till the end. Sabalenka defeated Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a thrilling match on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals, where she will face Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka said after the match, 'What a tremendous match. What a wonderful player he is. At one time I thought everything was over. This helped me relax a bit and concentrate.
It was necessary for Sabalenka to win this match to retain the number one ranking. They will now have to face a tough challenge from Pegula. This third seeded player made a comeback after losing the first set and defeated 26th seeded Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Sabalenka had defeated Pegula in the 2024 final and the semi-finals last year.