Carlos Alcaraz Vomits Into Towel During Epic Ben Shelton US Open Quarterfinals Clash

Ben Shelton said he was expecting fireworks during his match against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the US Open. And he was not wrong after all. During the match on Tuesday (September 8), the home favorite pushed Alcaraz to his limit. It was unlike the previous three matches they played that ended in the Spaniard’s favor.

Alcaraz, playing in his first tournament after injuring his wrist during the Barcelona Open, showed no rust upon his comeback, dropping just one set against Jaime Faria in the second round, en route to the quarterfinal.

But against Shelton, Alcaraz, after winning the first set through the tie-breaker, won just one game in the second set before losing the third as well. He saved himself from the brink of an upset with a 6-1 in the fourth set to force the decider. After tying the score, Alcaraz was seen throwing up in the towel while sitting on his bench.

Here’s the video:

Carlos Alcaraz throwing up in his towel during his match against Ben Shelton at the U.S. Open.

It’s past 2 in the morning.

He's giving it his all. pic.twitter.com/hz6908jJPQ

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 9, 2026

It was Shelton who, with an ace, wrapped up the match in his favor with a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) in four hours and 28 minutes (it was past 3 am in New York), defeating a top-3 player for the first time in his career. Alcaraz was bidding to defend his title. His defeat means that, for the second time since 2024, a player other than him and Jannik Sinner will win a Grand Slam title (the first was Alexander Zverev at the French Open).

The 23-year-old will end the season with one Grand Slam title. Earlier this season, he clinched the Australian Open by upsetting Novak Djokovic, also becoming the youngest Career Grand Slam champion in the Open Era on the men’s tour. He was then forced to skip both the French Open and Wimbledon due to his wrist injury.

Ben Shelton will face Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semifinals

For the second time since Andy Roddick‘s win at the 2003 US Open, an American man will play a Grand Slam final. The first player was Taylor Fritz, who lost to Jannik Sinner at the 2024 US Open.

And the second man will be either Ben Shelton or Frances Tiafoe. The 28-year-old overcame a two-set deficit to defeat compatriot Alex Michelsen to reach his career’s third Grand Slam semifinal. Shelton holds a 3-1 head-to-head lead over Tiafoe, and they will be meeting for the third time in their home Slam.

For me, it’s always about the people in the crowd. Whether it’s my coaches and my team over there, all my family and friends over here, or the city of New York that showed up tonight till 3:00 a.m. with the USA chants until the very end. That’s what kept me going, and that’s what got me this win tonight.

Ben Shelton said during the on-court interview

Shelton will be playing a Grand Slam semifinal for the third time in his career and the second time at Flushing Meadows. It was here back in 2023 that he reached his career’s first Major semifinals, losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

I mean, it’s incredible. I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world. I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world. I’m just hoping that my best friend and my sister over there don’t have to be at work at 6:00 a.m. in 3 hours. It’d be huge from their employers to let them have the day off today. But no, I’m just so grateful. So blessed. God’s blessed me in so many ways.

Ben Shelton added

The winner of the Shelton versus Tiafoe will face Alexander Zverev, Botic van de Zandschulp, Karen Khachanov, or Alexander Blockx in the final. Zverev is chasing his second Major of the season (as well as his career) following the French Open win.

Also read: Tennis Australia CEO Andrew Abdo Hints at Ditching Best-of-Five Sets in Grand Slams: “We Need to Explore”