Ben Shelton clinched the biggest win of his career as he defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set epic stretching deep into the New York night to reach the semi-finals of the US Open. The American prevailed 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (10-7) over four hours and 28 minutes to reward a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd gripped until 3.33am in what was the latest-ever finish to a US Open match. It marked Shelton's first career win over a top-three player, against which he had been 0-17 coming into the match.

Shelton will now play Frances Tiafoe in the final four after his fellow countryman's thrilling five-set victory over Alex Michelsen earlier in the evening. Shelton's victory means the United States is guaranteed representation in Sunday's men's final, with Andy Roddick the last American man to win a major title back in 2003. It also spelled the end of Alcaraz's courageous return to the court having been out for more than four months with a wrist injury and initially been a doubt to compete in New York.