Shelton Sweeps Tsitsipas to Book Alcaraz US Open Quarterfinal

What happened

Watch the highlights:

Ben Shelton powered past Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets on Sunday night, winning 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the 2026 US Open quarterfinals. The official US Open report says the eighth-seeded American ended Tsitsipas’ resurgent New York run with a controlled, emphatic performance. Shelton took command in the opening set, protected his advantage through the second and closed the match without allowing the Greek player to force a fourth set.

The result sends Shelton into a quarterfinal against second seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz had earlier beaten American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, meaning both players arrive at their meeting without having dropped a set in the fourth round. It is one of the tournament’s clearest contrasts: Shelton’s explosive left-handed serve and first-strike aggression against Alcaraz’s speed, improvisation and all-court defense.

Why it matters

Shelton is carrying the leading American men’s challenge into the final eight at the country’s home major. His route has required different solutions. He came through a four-set test against Hubert Hurkacz in the second round and another four-set match against Denis Shapovalov in the third before producing his cleanest scoreline of the tournament against Tsitsipas. That progression gives the quarterfinal more substance than a single hot night: Shelton has handled pressure, physical resistance and now a seasoned Grand Slam finalist.

Tournament impact

Tsitsipas’ exit removes an experienced contender from Alcaraz’s section of the draw, but Shelton is hardly a soft replacement. The American has already shown that his serve and forehand can shorten points on the quick New York hard courts. Alcaraz, meanwhile, has advanced with the authority expected of a defending champion. Their meeting will decide a semifinal place and test whether Shelton can impose his preferred attacking patterns against one of the sport’s best defenders.

What to watch

The first-serve numbers and the opening exchanges will shape the quarterfinal. Shelton needs inexpensive service points and forehands struck from inside the baseline; long neutral rallies would generally favor Alcaraz. Return position will also matter. If Alcaraz reads Shelton’s left-handed patterns early, the American may have to vary placement and use the body serve more often. Shelton’s chance rises if he can keep sets tight, energize the Ashe crowd and make the match turn on a handful of aggressive points.

Source note

The score, venue and next-round matchup are reported by the official US Open website in its September 6 match coverage and results recap. The tournament’s coverage confirms Shelton’s 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 victory and the quarterfinal pairing with Alcaraz. Source: https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2026-09-06/shelton_dominates_tsitsipas_sets_alcaraz_clash_in_2026_us_open_quarterfinals.html