US Open 2026: Shelton Stuns Alcaraz as Gauff and Rybakina Reach Semifinals
Ben Shelton stunned defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a historic 3:33 a.m. US Open finish, while Coco Gauff and new world No. 1 Elena Rybakina reached the semifinals.
Ben Shelton, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina representing the dramatic quarterfinal and semifinal races at the 2026 US Open
Table of Contents (19 sections)
New York, September 10, 2026: The 2026 US Open has reached its decisive stages after a dramatic series of quarterfinals featuring a historic late-night upset, remarkable comebacks and a change at the top of women’s tennis.
Defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out by American Ben Shelton in an extraordinary five-set quarterfinal that finished at 3:33 a.m. in New York, the latest finish in US Open history.
Shelton defeated Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) after four hours and 28 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium, ending the Spaniard’s 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and setting up an all-American semifinal against Frances Tiafoe.
The women’s tournament produced its own drama on Wednesday. Coco Gauff saved two match points before defeating Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2, while Elena Rybakina recovered from a set down to beat Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
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Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka to become the new women’s world No. 1, while India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup final, defeated Afghanistan in the first T20I and completed a men’s-and-women’s Junior Asia Cup hockey double.
Japanese triathlete Takumi Hojo delivered the first gold medal of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, winning the men’s individual triathlon in Gamagori in 52 minutes 56 seconds. The home favourite broke away during the run to defeat China’s Zhang Xirui by nine seconds, while the victory also earned
Rybakina’s victory carries an additional reward: she will become the WTA world No. 1 for the first time.
Gauff and Rybakina will now meet in a blockbuster semifinal as the year’s final Grand Slam approaches its climax.
Table of Contents
Ben Shelton knocks out Carlos Alcaraz
Historic 3:33 a.m. finish at Arthur Ashe Stadium
What went wrong for Alcaraz?
Shelton vs Tiafoe sets up all-American semifinal
Tiafoe’s remarkable comeback
Alexander Zverev reaches semifinals
Karen Khachanov advances after Blockx retirement
Coco Gauff saves two match points
Elena Rybakina becomes world No. 1
Gauff vs Rybakina semifinal
Women’s semifinal picture
US Open late-night scheduling debate
Who remains in the men’s title race?
What happens next?
Key takeaway
Ben Shelton Ends Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open Title Defence
The biggest result of the tournament so far came from Ben Shelton.
The No. 8 seed defeated defending champion Alcaraz in five sets:
Ben Shelton def. Carlos Alcaraz: 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).
It was Shelton’s first career victory against a player ranked inside the world’s top three and sent him into his third Grand Slam semifinal.
Alcaraz initially appeared to be in control after taking the opening set in a tiebreak.
Shelton responded emphatically.
The American won nine consecutive games during a dominant stretch across the second and third sets, using his powerful serve, aggressive returning and left-handed groundstrokes to repeatedly put Alcaraz under pressure.
Alcaraz recovered in the fourth set, winning it 6-1 and forcing a deciding fifth.
But neither player could establish a decisive advantage in the final set, sending the match into a match tiebreak.
Shelton ultimately won it 10-7.
And he finished in spectacular fashion.
A 146-mph ace sealed the biggest victory of his career.
US Open Match Finishes at Historic 3:33 a.m.
The scoreline was dramatic enough.
The finishing time made the match historic.
Shelton’s final ace arrived at 3:33 a.m. local time, making Shelton-Alcaraz the latest-finishing match in US Open history.
The match lasted approximately four hours and 28 minutes.
By the time it finished, Arthur Ashe Stadium was estimated to be only around one-third full.
Thousands of spectators had already left as Tuesday night turned into Wednesday morning.
Those who remained watched one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
The previous record was also associated with Alcaraz.
His famous 2022 quarterfinal against Jannik Sinner finished at 2:50 a.m. before Alcaraz went on to win his first Grand Slam title.
The 2026 tournament has now pushed the late-night issue considerably further.
Alcaraz’s Grand Slam Winning Streak Ends
The defeat also ended an impressive run for Alcaraz.
Shelton snapped the Spaniard’s 18-match winning streak at Grand Slam tournaments.
Alcaraz entered New York as the defending champion after returning from a right-wrist injury that had kept him away from competition for roughly four and a half months.
His return had been encouraging.
He progressed through the earlier rounds and defeated Tommy Paul in straight sets in the round of 16.
But Shelton presented a completely different challenge.
The American matched Alcaraz’s aggressive style and repeatedly attacked with his serve.
Alcaraz also showed signs of physical strain deep into the contest.
Even so, the defending champion pushed the match to the final tiebreak before Shelton eventually closed it out.
The result means there will be a new men’s US Open champion in 2026.
Shelton vs Tiafoe Guarantees an American Men’s Finalist
Shelton’s victory created another major storyline.
He will face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in Friday’s semifinal.
That guarantees that an American man will play in Sunday’s US Open final.
The United States has been waiting a long time for another men’s Grand Slam singles champion.
Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open victory remains the most recent men’s major singles title won by an American.
Shelton now has an opportunity to change that.
So does Tiafoe.
Their semifinal will also ensure enormous home support inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Frances Tiafoe Produces His Own Five-Set Comeback
Shelton was not the only American involved in a marathon.
Tiafoe produced one of the tournament’s most impressive comebacks against Alex Michelsen.
Michelsen won the opening two sets and even served for the match in the third.
Tiafoe refused to disappear.
He fought back to win:
5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6).
The match lasted four hours and 39 minutes.
Tiafoe’s victory sent him into his third US Open semifinal.
He previously reached the last four in 2022 and 2024.
The comeback also provided inspiration elsewhere in the tournament.
Coco Gauff later revealed that she had watched Tiafoe fighting back and used his performance as motivation during her own difficult quarterfinal.
Zverev Advances in Straight Sets
The other side of the men’s draw has taken a different shape.
Top seed Alexander Zverev defeated Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets:
6-2, 7-5, 6-1.
That sent Zverev into another US Open semifinal, where he will face Karen Khachanov.
Zverev entered the tournament as one of the leading contenders and remains the highest seed left in the men’s draw.
His route contrasts sharply with the marathon matches involving Shelton and Tiafoe.
While both Americans had to survive deciding-set tiebreaks, Zverev completed his quarterfinal without dropping a set.
Khachanov Advances After Blockx Retires
Karen Khachanov reached the semifinals under unfortunate circumstances for his opponent.
Belgian Alexander Blockx retired during their quarterfinal with Khachanov leading:
6-2, 7-5, 3-2.
That sent Khachanov through to face Zverev.
The men’s semifinal lineup is therefore:
Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov
and
Frances Tiafoe vs Ben Shelton.
The winners will meet in Sunday’s final.
Coco Gauff Saves Two Match Points in Stunning Comeback
The women’s quarterfinals delivered an equally dramatic comeback.
American star Coco Gauff appeared close to elimination against Mirra Andreeva.
Andreeva dominated the opening set 6-2 and put Gauff under enormous pressure in the second.
Gauff struggled particularly with her serve and committed significantly more unforced errors during the opening stages.
But the 2023 US Open champion stayed in the contest.
The second set reached a tiebreak.
Then came the critical moment.
Gauff saved two match points.
She eventually took the tiebreak 9-7 and forced a deciding set.
Once the third began, momentum had changed.
Gauff became increasingly aggressive and eventually completed a remarkable:
2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 victory.
After winning the final point, she dropped her racket in celebration and relief.
A 39-Shot Rally Helps Turn the Match
One of the defining moments came during a gruelling 39-shot rally.
Gauff survived the exchange as she gradually turned the contest around.
The American later explained that Tiafoe’s comeback from two sets down the previous evening had helped convince her that the match could still change.
That connection created one of the tournament’s most compelling American storylines.
Tiafoe survived a near-certain defeat.
Gauff watched him.
Then she survived two match points herself.
Both are now in the semifinals.
Elena Rybakina Reaches World No. 1
While Gauff produced the emotional comeback, Elena Rybakina achieved one of the biggest milestones of her career.
The Kazakh star defeated Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen:
3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Like Gauff, Rybakina lost the opening set.
Her response was immediate.
She dominated the second set 6-1 and then secured the decisive break she needed in the third.
The victory sent Rybakina into her first US Open semifinal.
More importantly, it guaranteed that she will become the world No. 1 for the first time in her career.
She becomes the 30th woman in WTA history to reach the top ranking.
Sabalenka’s 99-Week No. 1 Run Comes to an End
Rybakina’s rise means Aryna Sabalenka’s extended reign as world No. 1 will end.
Sabalenka had held the top ranking for 99 consecutive weeks and 107 weeks overall.
Rybakina’s 2026 season has transformed the rankings battle.
She began the year by winning the Australian Open and added strong results elsewhere before arriving in New York with the No. 1 ranking within reach.
What makes the achievement more notable is that Rybakina arrived at the US Open with fitness concerns.
She had been dealing with an Achilles problem and had gone several days without normal training shortly before the tournament.
Despite that preparation, she is now two victories away from the US Open title.
Gauff vs Rybakina Is the Blockbuster Women’s Semifinal
The result creates a highly anticipated semifinal:
Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina.
It brings together a former US Open champion and the incoming world No. 1.
Their head-to-head record is evenly matched heading into the semifinal, while Rybakina won their most recent meeting in Toronto.
Their routes to the semifinal have also been remarkably similar.
Both lost the opening set of their quarterfinal.
Both recovered.
Gauff had to save two match points.
Rybakina had to overcome a strong start from Zheng while playing with the pressure of the No. 1 ranking within reach.
The semifinal will decide which player gets the opportunity to compete for the final Grand Slam trophy of 2026.
The other women’s semifinal features Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka survived a difficult quarterfinal against Linda Noskova, winning:
7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7).
Pegula also came from behind, defeating Emma Navarro:
3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The result means the women’s semifinals feature the tournament’s top four seeds, something that has not happened at the US Open for 51 years.
The semifinal lineup is therefore:
Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula
Elena Rybakina vs Coco Gauff
It is an unusually heavyweight final four.
Late-Night Matches Become a Major US Open Issue
The quality of the tennis has been extraordinary.
The scheduling has become controversial.
Shelton-Alcaraz finishing at 3:33 a.m. was not an isolated late match.
The tournament had already experienced three matches finishing after 2 a.m. during its first six days, along with two others extending beyond 1 a.m.
Venus Williams was involved in another record when one of her matches began at 12:13 a.m., the latest start in US Open history.
She subsequently described such scheduling as less than ideal.
The issue raises questions about player recovery, spectator experience, transport for fans and whether Grand Slam matches should regularly continue deep into the early morning.
Night sessions are an important part of the US Open’s identity.
Arthur Ashe Stadium under the lights produces some of tennis’s most memorable atmospheres.
But a match ending at 3:33 a.m. is different from a conventional evening session.
Shelton-Alcaraz has therefore intensified the debate over whether organisers need stronger limits on how late matches can begin.
Who Can Win the Men’s US Open Now?
Alcaraz’s elimination has significantly changed the men’s title race.
The four remaining players are:
Alexander Zverev
Karen Khachanov
Frances Tiafoe
Ben Shelton
Zverev carries the highest seeding.
Shelton carries enormous momentum after eliminating the defending champion.
Tiafoe has already demonstrated his ability to survive extreme pressure.
Khachanov has experience deep in major tournaments and arrives in the semifinal having spent less time on court in his quarterfinal because of Blockx’s retirement.
There is also an important historical dimension.
Either Shelton or Tiafoe will reach the final, giving American men’s tennis another opportunity to end its long Grand Slam title drought.
What Happens Next at the US Open?
The tournament is now entering its final stretch.
The women’s semifinals will determine whether Gauff can move closer to another title in New York, whether incoming No. 1 Rybakina can add a US Open trophy to her Grand Slam collection, whether Sabalenka can defend her crown, or whether Pegula can make another major breakthrough.
On the men’s side, attention will be dominated by the all-American battle between Shelton and Tiafoe.
Shelton has already produced the defining upset of the tournament.
Tiafoe has produced one of its greatest comebacks.
Only one can reach Sunday’s final.
On the opposite side, Zverev and Khachanov will fight for the other championship spot.
The 2026 US Open has therefore arrived at its semifinals with almost everything a Grand Slam could offer: defending champions under pressure, marathon matches, home favourites, a new world No. 1, match points saved and one of the latest nights in tennis history.
And after Shelton’s 3:33 a.m. upset of Alcaraz, predicting what happens next has become considerably more difficult.
Key Takeaway
Ben Shelton produced the biggest result of the 2026 US Open by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set epic that finished at a record 3:33 a.m.
The all-American semifinal between Shelton and Frances Tiafoe is now set.
On the women’s side, Coco Gauff saved two match points to reach the semifinals, while Elena Rybakina’s victory sealed her rise to world No. 1.
Gauff will face Rybakina in a blockbuster semifinal. The other women’s semifinal pairs Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula.
The tournament heads into its final days with drama on every front.
The Rajatheertha Team publishes news, explainers, guides and updates across India and the world. Our coverage follows Rajatheertha's editorial, verification and corrections standards.
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