Carlos Alcaraz says goodbye to the US Open after an epic battle against Ben Shelton
Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz ended his participation in the US Open after falling in a vibrant quarterfinal duel against American Ben Shelton. The match, which lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes, concluded in the early hours of the New York morning with a score of 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, and 7-6(7), establishing itself as one of the most intense matchups of the season.
For Alcaraz, this tournament represented a significant return to the courts after almost five months of inactivity due to an injury. Despite the defeat, the Murcian was positive regarding his physical condition and his competitive performance.
I leave the court happy. I leave with a smile, healthy, and this is what I needed. We fought, we pushed a player who has been playing at a very high level this season to the limit. The most important thing was to leave with matches played, with high rhythm and, above all, healthy.
Carlos Alcaraz
Feelings after the return
The 2025 New York champion emphasized that, beyond the result, the main goal was to regain the feeling of competition. Alcaraz expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming commitments on the tennis calendar:
- Recover the intensity of on-track battles.
- Ability to find strategic solutions against high-level rivals.
- Preparation focused on the important tournaments remaining in the season.
Ben Shelton prepares for the semifinals
For his part, Ben Shelton described the match as a true physical and mental “war,” acknowledging the Spaniard’s talent. Following this victory, the American will face his compatriot Frances Tiafoe this Thursday in search of a spot in the grand final.
It has been a war, an epic match, very physical. Carlos is one of the great champions of our sport. Sometimes it is ridiculous what he manages to do on the court. It has been the match I have enjoyed the most in my career, without a doubt.
Ben Shelton
Shelton highlighted that the key to the victory lay in his intelligence in managing the return games and his ability to force errors from an Alcaraz who, despite the defeat, made it clear that his competitive level remains intact.
