Shelton blows past Tsitsipas into his first US Open quarterfinal since 2023, Alcaraz next
Ben Shelton did not face a break point in beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first US Open quarterfinal since 2023, and now runs into a Carlos Alcaraz who has beaten him three times out of three and every American he has met at a major. The 23-year-old is promising fireworks on Ashe on Tuesday night.
Ben Shelton, US Open 2026 | © PsNewz
Ben Shelton spent Sunday night on Arthur Ashe without once being asked to defend his serve, the American No. 8 seed beating Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the US Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2023. He did not face a single break point in the match.
The serve did most of it. Shelton hit 12 aces to two, landed 72% of first serves against 52%, and won 84% of the points behind the first and 70% behind the second, holding all 14 of his service games.
He broke four times from six chances, struck 32 winners to 16 while making six fewer unforced errors than his opponent, and finished with 84 of the 141 points played. Tsitsipas, who has served with more raw speed all fortnight and averaged 199 kph on first serve here, won nine games.
Shelton’s best season yet takes him back to the last eight
The win was his 36th of 2026 and his ninth in his last ten matches, and it carried him into a sixth Grand Slam quarterfinal. He is still looking for a first major final, and he has chosen the tournament where his breakthrough happened to go after it.
Sunday was the first time in the tournament that nobody made him wait as getting here cost him three four-set matches. He beat Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2 after losing the opening set, then Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5, then Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.
Tsitsipas exit closes the book on the one-handed backhand
Tsitsipas, ranked No. 53 and unseeded, had put together the better run of the two on paper, beating Czech No. 18 seed Jiri Lehecka 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-1, South African qualifier Lloyd Harris 6-7 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-4 and French No. 10 seed Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4. Two seeds in three matches, and then nothing to hit against a server having his best night of the year.
His defeat settles a piece of history that had been building all season. With Tsitsipas out and the last major of the year down to eight men, 2026 becomes the first year in which no man with a one-handed backhand has reached a Grand Slam singles semifinal. The fortnight still takes him back inside the top 50, to around No. 43.
Alcaraz next, and a head-to-head Shelton has yet to win
Shelton plays Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday. The Spanish No. 2 seed has beaten him in all three of their meetings and is 13-0 against American opponents at Grand Slam level, a record that has survived four and a half months away from the tour this season with a wrist injury.
Shelton was asked on court by Sam Querrey what it would take. “Special tennis. I think the level he’s been playing at is really really impressive. To not play for five months and come out and do what he’s done so far this tournament has been superhuman. We’re happy to have him back on tour. He lights up the stadium every time he plays. I think it’s gonna be fireworks on Tuesday night. I hope you guys come back, because I’m ready to go.”
US Open 2026, men’s singles, 4th round
A. Zverev [1] vs L. Darderi [21] – Monday, Ashe, 7:00 PM session
A. Gea (L) vs B. Van de Zandschulp – Monday, Grandstand, nb 4:30 PM
K. Khachanov vs L. Tien [14] – Monday, Armstrong, nb 4:00 PM
F. Cerundolo [24] vs A. Blockx [28] – Monday, Ashe Stadium, nb 1:00 PM
F. Tiafoe [11] d. D. Medvedev [7]: 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(6)
A. Michelsen d. T. Etcheverry [27]: 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4
B. Shelton [8] d. S. Tsitsipas: 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
C. Alcaraz [2] d. T. Paul [20]: 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
