Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated by Ben Shelton to the quarter-finals of the Us Open at the end of an epic four hour and 28 minute marathon. The match ended at 3.33 in the night, the longest evening session in the history of the tournament, and saw the American prevail over the defending Spanish champion in the fifth set tie-break: 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6 7-6 (10-7).
For Shelton it is the second semi-final at the United States Open after the one in 2023, the third in his career after the 2025 Australian Open. On Friday he will challenge his compatriot Frances Tiafoe, winner of another 4 hours and 38 minute marathon on the Arthur Ashe Stadium in the US derby with Alex Michelsen. The world number 12 overcame a two-set deficit to close with a final score of 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6,(6). Today the picture of the semi-finals of the US Open is completed with ‘Sascha’ Zverev facing the Dutch Boltic Van der Zandschulp as favourite. The other quarterfinal is between Karen Khachanov and Alexander Blockx.
A bit of Italy survives at Flushing Meadows: after more than three hours of competition, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori reached the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time by coming from behind to beat 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(8) the American Austin Krajicek and the Croatian Nikola Mektic who were ahead 5-2 at the tie-break of the second set and a break at the beginning of the third.
“We play this sport for moments like this,” he cheered
Vavassori. On the Italian night the two Italians will compete for a place in the semi-finals against the American Christian Harrison and the British Neal Skupski.
The marathons at the US Open bring the topic of the physical effort required of the protagonists of the ATP circuit back into the spotlight. The new CEO of Tennis Australia, Andrew Abdo, anticipated that it is possible that “in the future, in Grand Slam tournaments, depending on the number of rounds or duration, best of five sets will no longer be played for the entire tournament”.