Ben Shelton booked his place in the 2026 US Open quarterfinals with a dominant straight-sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday, September 6, setting up a highly anticipated clash with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
The American won 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the quarterfinals in New York for the second time, three years after his memorable run to the semifinals in 2023.
Shelton produced his most convincing performance of the tournament. He hit 11 aces, won 83% of his first-serve points and did not face a single break point against Tsitsipas. His powerful serve and aggressive left-handed forehand kept the Greek under constant pressure throughout the match.
The victory also continued a strong run for Shelton, who had already defeated former top-10 players Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov in the previous rounds. He will now face a much bigger challenge against Alcaraz, who has looked sharp since returning to competition after more than four months out with a right wrist injury.
The American has yet to beat Alcaraz, losing all three of their previous meetings. Their most recent encounter came in the fourth round of the 2025 French Open, where Alcaraz won in four sets before going on to claim the title.
Alcaraz also advanced to the quarterfinals on Sunday with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tommy Paul. The Spaniard has now won 18 consecutive Grand Slam matches and has reached his fifth US Open quarterfinal in six appearances.
The quarterfinal between Shelton and Alcaraz is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 16:30 (Moroccan time).
