ICYMI: Ben goes big

• Ben Shelton capped off a very dramatic but exceedingly long day at the US Open by holding off Carlos Alcaraz in a fifth-set tiebreak to win 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) at 3:33am. Yes, it was the latest finish in US Open history.

• There were four quarterfinal matches played on Ashe on Tuesday, and as luck would have it, all four went the distance. It all started with World No.1 (for now?) Aryna Sabalenka fighting for her life to get past Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) and keep her title defense alive.

Aryna Sabalenka edges Linda Noskova to keep three-peat hopes alive in a marathon day at the US Open

Aryna Sabalenka kept alive her hopes for a third straight U.S. Open title by fighting off Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a thrilling quarterfinal matchup of major champions.

AP NewsBrian Mahoney

• Then came Frances Tiafoe's absurd comeback – or less graciously, Alex Michelsen's stunning choke – with Big Foe coming back from 7-5, 6-3, 5-4 down with Michelsen serving – to win 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(10-6) .

• Then it was Jessica Pegula's turn to GO THROUGH IT, overcoming her own struggle-bus performance to reel in Emma Navarro  3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to keep her quest to finish the tournament as the new World No.1 going. That win sets up yet another US Open showdown between Aryna and Jess, both of whom will be vociferously rooting for Zheng Qinwen to topple Elena Rybakina on Wednesday to prevent her from sealing the No.1 ranking outright.

Pegula comes from a break down in third set to make US Open semifinal return

Jessica Pegula overcame shaky serving to rally past Emma Navarro in three sets and reach her third straight US Open semifinal. The win extended her perfect record against Navarro and sent her into her fourth career Major semifinal.

Women's Tennis AssociationNoah Poser

• Alllllll that led to a very delayed start to what was supposed to be the Match of the Day – and my de facto final – between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton. They took the court well after 10pm and put on a wild, but weird, but ultimately entertaining show. This really could have been a straight-set romp for Ben – Carlos absolutely stole that first set tiebreak – but Carlos woke from his hour-long slumber just in time to take this one down to the wire. Huge credit to Shelton. Carlos gave him every opportunity to buckle and he simply refused.

Ben Shelton dethrones Carlos Alcaraz in five-set thriller after latest US Open finish

Carlos Alcaraz’s title defence was ended by Ben Shelton in the latest finish to a match in US Open history on Wednesday morning

The GuardianTumaini Carayol

• As a result, for the second straight year there will be an American man in the US Open final. Ben vs. Frances for all the marbles on Friday.

• Since most of America was dead asleep while Ben and Carlos were putting on a pretty remarkable athletic display, here's a recap via some of the best missives on social media:

my favorite part of alcaraz/shelton is when both their turbo buttons get stuck and they zip around the court like two houseflies stuck in a jar

— andré (@andre-carlisle.bsky.social) September 8, 2026 at 11:03 PM

Sara Errani is BOILING

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— Dr. Sholz (SholzTalks10s) (@sholzzzz.bsky.social) September 8, 2026 at 9:28 PM

They broke the score bug.

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— Courtney Nguyen (@fortydeucetwits.bsky.social) September 9, 2026 at 12:36 AM