Carlos Alcaraz Reaches US Open 2026 Quarterfinals Before Shelton Ends Title Defense

Carlos Alcaraz reached the 2026 US Open quarterfinals with a commanding straight-sets victory over American Tommy Paul before his title defense ended in a dramatic five-set battle against Ben Shelton.

The defending champion defeated Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the fourth round, extending his Grand Slam winning streak to 18 matches and reaching his fifth US Open quarterfinal in six appearances.

Alcaraz Cruises Past Tommy Paul

Alcaraz entered the tournament with questions surrounding his fitness after a four-and-a-half-month absence caused by a right wrist injury.

Those concerns appeared to fade as the Spaniard progressed through the early rounds. Against Paul, Alcaraz produced another confident performance, controlling the match in just over two hours.

The victory sent the world No. 3 into a quarterfinal against No. 8 seed Ben Shelton, an American with a powerful serve and strong support from the home crowd.

Shelton Ends Alcaraz's Title Defense

The quarterfinal turned into one of the tournament's most dramatic matches.

Shelton defeated Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) after four hours and 28 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match finished at 3:33 a.m., setting a record for the latest finish in US Open history.

Alcaraz won the opening-set tiebreak, but Shelton responded by taking the next two sets. The Spaniard fought back strongly in the fourth, forcing a deciding set.

Shelton eventually prevailed in another tiebreak, sealing the biggest victory of his career with a 146-mph ace.

A Major Upset

The defeat ended Alcaraz's 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and his bid to defend the US Open title.

For Shelton, it was his first victory over a player ranked inside the world's top three and a breakthrough moment at his home Grand Slam.

Shelton now advances to the semifinals, where he will face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in an all-American showdown.

A Strong Return for Alcaraz

Despite the quarterfinal defeat, Alcaraz's US Open campaign represented an impressive return to competitive tennis.

He had not played a competitive tournament since April because of his wrist injury, yet he managed to reach the last eight and looked increasingly comfortable as the tournament progressed.

His run ultimately ended against a player producing one of the performances of the tournament.

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