Alcaraz after US Open exit: "I'm not disappointed"

At 3:38 AM local time, later than ever before at the US Open, New Yorkers witnessed their sensation!

Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, seeded number two, in the quarter-finals after 4:28 hours and a five-set thriller 6:7(5), 6:1, 6:3, 1:6, 7:6(7). To the match report >>>

An American guaranteed in the final

"The USA-USA chants pushed me until the end, thank you for staying until after 3 AM," Shelton said on court after his first victory over a top-3 player. "It's incredible, this is the greatest stadium in the world, the greatest sports city in the world. God has blessed me in so many ways."

This means an American is guaranteed to be in the final, as Shelton will now face countryman Frances Tiafoe. He had previously won the all-American clash against Alex Michelsen in five sets, lasting 4:39 hours.

Alcaraz remains positive

For Alcaraz, however, the US Open ends in the quarter-finals. The world number three was back on court at a tournament for the first time since his wrist injury. His last appearance was in April in Barcelona.

After his exit against Shelton and thus missing out on defending his title in New York, the 23-year-old expressed surprising positivity: "It was close, really close. That's why I'm not disappointed that I didn't win in the end. I'm leaving the court happy and healthy, with a smile, and that's exactly what I needed."

He had plenty of praise for his opponent: "After the third set, I was really tired, but I found a way to push myself. In the fifth set, I played better and better, but he's a beast. Shelton is an incredibly powerful player."

"Epic match"

In four and a half hours, the two pushed each other to their limits. In the end, the decision came in a tie-break in the deciding set. Shelton called it an "epic match. That was the most entertaining match of my career."

Regardless of the rest of the tournament, Shelton will improve to ATP rank four, his best ranking to date, while Alcaraz remains third.