Ben Shelton pulled off the signature win of his career early Wednesday morning, outlasting defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) in a US Open quarterfinal that didn't end until 3:33 a.m. ET — the latest finish in the tournament's history.

The eighth-seeded American needed 4 hours and 28 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium to shock the two-time defending champion, closing out the fifth-set tiebreak after trailing 3-5 and sealing the match with a 146-mph ace Alcaraz never touched. The win snapped Alcaraz's 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and ended his bid for an eighth major title, according to the ATP Tour's official recap.

Latest Finish in Tournament History

The finish shattered the previous US Open record for latest ending — Alcaraz's own 2:50 a.m. quarterfinal win over Jannik Sinner in 2022 — and left thousands of fans in their seats deep into Wednesday morning, chanting Shelton's name and "USA! USA!" as the Spaniard's title defense unraveled, according to NBC Sports.

It marked Shelton's first career victory over a top-three opponent — he entered 0-17 against the sport's elite, and 0-3 lifetime against Alcaraz specifically. Alcaraz reportedly vomited courtside before the deciding set but composed himself to seize a 5-3 lead in the final tiebreak, only for Shelton to reel off the last points behind his booming serve. The win lifts Shelton to No. 4 in the ATP rankings and pushes his 2026 season record to 38-13.

The breakthrough caps a career year for the 23-year-old Floridian, who has already won titles on three different surfaces in 2026 — hard, clay and grass — becoming the first American to do so in a single season since Sam Querrey in 2010. Alcaraz, by contrast, arrived at Flushing Meadows defending his title and chasing an eighth career major; instead, he heads home in the quarterfinals with his long Grand Slam winning streak snapped.

"I'm tired. It was a war. Carlos is one of the greatest champions of our sport," Shelton said afterward.

Alcaraz, gracious in defeat, pointed to the margins. "It was close, it was really close, so I was disappointed I didn't get the win at the end," he said. Shelton credited the crowd for carrying him through the marathon: "For me, it is always about the people in the crowd — that's what got me the win tonight."

Shelton now advances to face fellow American Frances Tiafoe, who outlasted Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(10-6) in the day's other quarterfinal, in Friday's semifinal at the US Open. The all-American semifinal guarantees the tournament its first American men's finalist since Andy Roddick won the title in 2003 — a 23-year wait that will now be settled on Flushing Meadows' biggest stage.