Alexander Zverev Reacts to Ben Shelton’s Epic US Open Win Over Carlos Alcaraz: “He was a Bit Out of Rhythm”

Alexander Zverev stayed up until 3:30 AM to watch the thrilling US Open quarterfinal match between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz. The German top seed sacrificed his sleep to witness the high-stakes five-set drama unfold inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Zverev praised Shelton’s exceptional play throughout the grueling contest. He noted that the American performed brilliantly from the baseline and maintained remarkable stability from the back of the court. Zverev said in his press conference:

Ben played extremely well from the back of the court. He was very solid and stable from there. It was spectacular to watch him. Of course, he also served well, but that’s normal for him. I think his baseline tennis was incredibly good. In Alcaraz’s case, it might have been noticeable that he was a bit out of rhythm. It had been a while since he faced a top-level player, and he may have missed a few more forehands than he usually does. But all credit goes to Ben. He played amazingly.

According to Zverev, Shelton’s baseline tennis was incredibly good and spectacular to watch during the late-night showdown. He also acknowledged Shelton’s reliable serving performance, though he remarked that serving at such a high level is entirely normal for the American.

Analyzing Alcaraz’s performance, Zverev suggested that the Spaniard may have suffered from a lack of competitive rhythm. He pointed out that it had been a while since Alcaraz last faced a top-level player, which likely caused him to miss more forehands than usual.

Alexander Zverev’s dominant run at the US Open

Following his late-night watching of tennis, Alexander Zverev quickly booked his own spot in the tournament’s semifinals. He defeated unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets with a scoreline of 6-2, 7-5, 6-1.

This victory made Zverev the only male player to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2026. His progression to the last four marks his 13th career major semifinal appearance.

Zverev’s journey to this stage included fighting through exhausting five-set matches in both of his opening two rounds. However, he managed to rebound strongly by securing three consecutive straight-set wins in his subsequent matches.

Looking ahead to the next round, Zverev is scheduled to face Karen Khachanov on Friday. The German holds a 6-3 head-to-head edge over Khachanov as he pursues another major final.

Ben Shelton’s historic victory over Carlos Alcaraz

Ben Shelton produced a stunning upset by defeating second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz in a match that lasted four hours and 28 minutes. The epic quarterfinal battle concluded deep into the night at 3:33 AM with a final score of 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).

The eighth-seeded American utilized his powerful serve and aggressive baseline tactics to dethrone the former US Open champion. Shelton fired 8 aces and successfully converted 5 out of 16 break points during the tense encounter.

Alcaraz fought back fiercely by winning 19 service games and claiming 164 total points, but ultimately fell short in the fifth-set tiebreak. Shelton accumulated 169 total points and won 105 points on his service games to seal the victory.

With this remarkable win, Shelton advanced to the US Open semifinals. He is set to face fellow American Frances Tiafoe in an all-American battle for a spot in the final.

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