When the clock struck half-past three in the morning in New York, Ben Shelton was still standing. Carlos Alcaraz wasn’t. And the US Open had just witnessed history, the kind written in sweat, grit and refusal to surrender when the entire city should have been asleep.

Shelton’s 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7) victory over defending champion Alcaraz at 3:34 AM on Wednesday morning broke the record for the latest finish in Flushing Meadows history. The four-hour, 28-minute epic on Arthur Ashe Stadium wasn’t just a match, it was a statement. American tennis is back, baby. And it’s brought reinforcements.

This wasn’t the only marathon that stretched deep into Wednesday morning. On a day that tested the limits of human endurance and the dedication of New York’s tennis faithful, four epic encounters produced drama worthy of Broadway, tension worthy of a thriller, and finishes worthy of staying up until dawn.

The marathon night that made history

Ben Shelton has always played with the swagger of someone who believes he belongs on the biggest stages. Wednesday morning, or was it still Tuesday night?, he proved it beyond doubt.

The 22-year-old American dismantled the holder’s title defence with a performance that combined raw power, tactical intelligence and the mental fortitude to close out a fifth-set tiebreak when most mortals would have wilted under the pressure.

Alcaraz, showed flashes of the brilliance that won him this title and three other Grand Slam crowns. But Shelton’s relentless assault, particularly his monstrous serve and fearless baseline striking, proved too much when it mattered most.

“It’s incredible,” Shelton said, thanking the crowd that had stayed until nearly 4 AM to witness history. “I always say that this is the greatest sports city in the world. I say that this is the greatest stadium in the world. To be here in front of you guys tonight is an absolute honour. Sharing the court with Carlos is an absolute honour, and I cherish every moment that I have out here.”

For Alcaraz, disappointment was tempered by pride in how he’d performed after such a lengthy layoff.

“I’m just proud about myself, about how I fought,” the Spaniard said, calling Shelton “a beast” physically. “It was close. It was close. So I’m just not going to be disappointed about not getting the win at the end. Shelton is an unbelievable player, powerful. He just managed how to play really, really well in every situation, so credit to him.”

Sabalenka survives Noskova scare in another marathon

The men weren’t the only ones pushing the limits of endurance. Earlier in the marathon day, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka needed every ounce of her considerable resolve to outlast Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 7-6 (10/7) in what the Belarusian described as an absolute battle.

“What a battle,” Sabalenka told the crowd afterwards. “I was pushing myself to the limit, especially in the third set. I honestly thought that was it, the match was over, and that’s what helped me to feel loose and go for my shots.”

She wasn’t exaggerating. Trailing 4-2 in the deciding set on the back of two crushing double faults, Sabalenka appeared headed for her latest Grand Slam disappointment in a 2025 season where she’s been unable to add to her collection of four major titles.

But champions find a way. Clearly frustrated yet somehow able to regroup, Sabalenka broke the 21-year-old Czech to love and pulled level at 4-4. They hurtled into a 10-point tiebreak where Sabalenka finally sealed victory with a second-serve ace.

The victory was Sabalenka’s first over a top-10 player since she defeated Coco Gauff in the Miami final back in March, ending a drought that had quietly been building pressure throughout the year.

Pegula battles through to set up Sabalenka Rematch

Jessica Pegula’s path to the semi-finals was slightly less dramatic but no less gutsy. The third seed needed two hours and 20 minutes to overcome fellow American Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, coming from a set down in a match that featured nine breaks of serve.

“It was really tough,” Pegula admitted. “It was physical, humid. I wasn’t exactly serving my best and I was fighting a lot of demons out there today.”

Those demons will need to be fully exorcised for what comes next: a semi-final clash with Sabalenka that carries significant historical baggage.

Sabalenka beat Pegula in the 2024 US Open final, still the only Grand Slam final appearance of Pegula’s career. Then she beat her again in last year’s semi-finals. The Belarusian holds all the psychological cards heading into their latest encounter.

For Pegula, this represents a chance at redemption and an opportunity to finally break through on the biggest stage. She’s been knocking on the door of Grand Slam glory for years. Now she gets another chance to kick it down, against the very player who’s denied her before.

The night New York refused to sleep

What made Wednesday morning’s finish so remarkable wasn’t just the quality of tennis, though that was undeniably exceptional. It was the commitment of everyone involved.

The players, obviously, who pushed their bodies and minds to the absolute limit. But also the fans who stayed until nearly 4 AM, creating an atmosphere that Shelton rightly called an honour to play in.