US Open: Big-serving Ben Shelton stuns Carlos Alcaraz in 5-set thriller, reaches semis
It was 3:33 am in New York. Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz had produced one of the most memorable matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The men’s singles quarterfinal lasted four hours and 28 minutes.
Usually, at the end of these marathons, it is Alcaraz who has his hands up, gesturing to the crowd and celebrating with his team. This time, it was Shelton soaking in the applause from the home crowd, which had stayed despite knowing most of them would have to head to work in a couple of hours.
The phone celebration was on as Shelton won the quarterfinal 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7).
Epic is an understatement.
The 23-year-old Shelton has been there or thereabouts. He was not considered part of the Big Boys’ Club despite being ranked in the top 10. There was never any doubting his potential, but he would often produce flashes of brilliance before disappearing when the pressure mounted.
Two Grand Slam semifinals felt inadequate in an era when Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are rewriting the rules of entry to the Big Boys’ Club. But perhaps Tuesday was a marker – a marker of Shelton’s ambitions.
He produced lights-out tennis for four hours and 28 minutes, finding ways to keep himself alive even when Alcaraz was playing Alcaraz-level tennis.
Shelton’s big serves soared past 140 kph on the speed gun at will, while his power game was good enough to send Alcaraz packing. Not many players can do that.
After losing the opening set, Shelton raised his level, firing winners from the baseline and hitting even his second serves with venom. By the end of the third set, when he led 2-1, 38 percent of his second serves had gone unreturned.
Against one of the best returners of the modern game, that was a statement in itself.
– Ends
