Carlos Alcaraz knocked out of US Open after ‘throwing up’ in tough, record-breaking match
Carlos Alcaraz’s run to defend his US Open title came to a tough end early Wednesday morning, as he lost to Ben Shelton in a record-breaking match.
Shelton fought hard to win 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in their quarter-final showdown, which didn’t finish until 3:34 a.m.—the latest finish ever at the tournament.
It was a big moment for Shelton, who had never beaten a top-three player in 17 tries before this. For Alcaraz, who has been coming back from a wrist injury, it was a harsh defeat—he even seemed to get sick near the end of the match before finally losing.
Alcaraz, a two-time US Open champion, won’t be adding another Grand Slam this year after missing Wimbledon and the French Open due to injury. The match started late, around 11 p.m., because earlier games ran long, and the long, intense battle kept fans on edge for over four hours.
Shelton not only won his biggest match yet but also beat Alcaraz for the first time after three previous losses. Alcaraz showed great spirit coming back after months away, but his fitness seemed to suffer by the end. A video circulated online showing him throwing up into a towel after the fourth set, highlighting how tough it was for him.
The match beat the previous US Open latest finish record, also set by Alcaraz, but still didn’t break the Grand Slam record from the 2008 Australian Open, which ended at 4:34 a.m.
While the record-setting match thrilled many, some fans criticized the tournament for starting the match so late. They said it was unfair for working viewers and worried about players’ health. One fan pointed out that Wimbledon has an 11 p.m. curfew, saying the US Open should do the same.
Others called starting such a big match at 11 p.m. on a weeknight ‘insane,’ saying it meant few people could watch live. Former TV host Jason Page said the scheduling was “ridiculous,” as it meant the biggest match of the tournament had almost no East Coast audience.
Shelton will take on fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals on Thursday. Both men’s semi-final matches are set to be played on the same day.