Overview
- Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five‑set quarterfinal that concluded at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday, the latest finish in US Open history.
- Organizers say the extreme finish was driven by multiple marathon matches earlier that day and the Open’s split day/night ticketing model that schedules marquee matches for prime time.
- Players, coaches and former champions have sharply criticized the timing for harming sleep and recovery, and US Open communications head Brendan McIntyre said the tournament will evaluate scheduling options.
- Proposals under discussion include earlier night-session start times, spreading quarterfinals across multiple stadiums, imposing a nightly curfew like Wimbledon, and a fifth‑set 10‑point tiebreak suggested by Rennae Stubbs, but no change will be implemented during this tournament.
- The decision facing the USTA will balance preserving long five‑set matches that many value against TV revenue, stadium logistics and the physical toll on athletes, with tournament director Eric Butorac saying starts before 7 p.m. would be challenging.