Alcaraz says 'I leave with a smile' after epic US Open loss to Shelton
At the end, when five riveting sets and one agonizingly tight tiebreak were over — and when the latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history had concluded — Ben Shelton was not the only player smiling. Carlos Alcaraz, the player Shelton had just defeated in an entertaining, spine-tingling marathon, was smiling too. The dethroned defending champ grinned as he walked to the net to hug Shelton.
At Arthur Ashe Stadium, Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz faced off in one of the most intense matches in U.S. Open history. The 23-year-old Spaniard, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, ultimately fell to the American in a five-set, nerve-wracking tiebreak marathon lasting until 3:33 a.m. Alcaraz, however, left the court not just smiling, but also feeling proud of his performance and physically healthy after a four-month break due to a wrist injury.
Despite the loss, Alcaraz praised his opponent's complete and mature play, calling it the most enjoyable match he's ever had. Fans from both countries, Alcaraz supporters Anushka Sancheti and Prajakti Kapde, were among the thousands who remained throughout the grueling match. For Sancheti and Kapde, witnessing the historic contest between their favorite player and the defending champion was an unforgettable experience.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Carlos Alcaraz Congratulates Ben Shelton in Heartfelt Message After Electric US Open Battle: ‘You Deserve the Win’ sports.yahoo.com
- 'That was some tennis': Tendulkar hails Shelton-Alcaraz US Open thriller iol.co.za
- Shelton ends Alcaraz’s title reign in late-night marathon, will face Tiafoe in US Open semis myjoyonline.com
- Ben Shelton stuns defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to reach US Open semis timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Shelton ends Alcaraz's title in late-night marathon, will face Tiafoe in US Open abcnews.com
- Shelton beats Alcaraz in latest-ever US Open finish to reach semis bbc.co.uk
