The US Open quarterfinal between Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton will start much later than planned after a marathon five-set match pushed the night session off schedule. Frances Tiafoe’s comeback win over Alex Michelsen lasted 4 hours and 41 minutes, putting Arthur Ashe Stadium behind schedule. The women’s match between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro also began more than 40 minutes late. Alcaraz and Shelton were scheduled to play second in the night session, after Pegula and Navarro.
Alcaraz returns to New York after a four-and-a-half-month break. He beat Safiullin and Faria in the early rounds, then added a win over Wu. His straight-sets victory against Tommy Paul showed he is in strong form. Earlier reports noted how Alcaraz handled Paul with little trouble, reinforcing his status as a tournament favorite. Reuters describes Alcaraz as a two-time US Open champion heading into the quarterfinal after that win over Paul.
Ben Shelton, 23 and ranked ninth in the world, is Alcaraz’s next opponent. Alcaraz has won all three of their previous matches, but Shelton’s run to the quarterfinals shows he is gaining ground. The ATP notes that Shelton reached the match after a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas. The late-night setting in New York could add another twist to their meeting.
Whoever wins will have little time to recover before facing Tiafoe in the semifinals. Tiafoe, coming off his exhausting victory, will be a tough next opponent. The scheduling delays have made the tournament more unpredictable, testing the focus and stamina of everyone left in the draw.
This year’s tournament has forced Alcaraz to handle tougher matches with each round. He has adapted well so far, but Shelton’s aggressive play and the late start could change the dynamic. In a Grand Slam where endurance and focus matter as much as skill, tonight’s delayed match is another test for both players.
