Updated

American Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal-round duel at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, with the match running into the early hours of Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Reports placed the finish at roughly 3:30 a.m. Eastern time, making it the latest-finishing match in US Open history and capping what coverage described as a day full of deciding-set battles. The result removed the reigning men's champion from the draw and pushed Shelton into the later rounds of his home Grand Slam, while reviving long-running debate about late-night scheduling at the tournament. The quarterfinals continued later on September 9 at Flushing Meadows, with the women's singles final scheduled for Saturday, September 12, and the men's final for Sunday, September 13, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The finish drew wide attention because of the physical toll of matches ending near dawn and the small number of fans who stayed to the end.