{
  "id": 6431320,
  "title": "‘3:33 am is annoying’: America’s Ben Shelton shocks U.S. Open fans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/3-33-am-is-annoying-americas-ben-shelton-shocks-u-s-open-fans",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-09T15:13:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-33-am-annoying-america-151321191.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 7, 2022, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, the 2022 U.S. Open men's quarterfinals between American Ben Shelton and Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz concluded at an unprecedented time: 3:33 a.m. EST. This record-breaking finish marked the first time in U.S. Open history that a quarterfinal match extended into the early hours of the morning. Prior to this, Italy's Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz held the record, finishing at 2:50 a.m. on the same day.\n\nTennis experts, including Matthew Futterman of the Athletic, attributed the extended match length to the increasing physicality of the sport and the time allotted for each serve. The 30-second serve clock has not significantly reduced match duration, leading to more prolonged games. The U.S. Tennis Association has proposed various solutions, including a later start time for the night session, but logistical and local considerations make such changes difficult.\n\nDespite the inconvenience for U.S. fans, the late finish allowed international viewers in regions like London and Madrid to catch the match during their breakfast hours. Fans across the country took to social media to express their reactions to Shelton's victory over Alcaraz in a five-set showdown, praising the match for its intensity and quality, and recognizing it as an unforgettable moment in U.S. Open history.",
  "summary": "The U.S. Open men’s quarterfinals matchup between the No. 9-ranked American Ben Shelton and No. 3-ranked Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz began at 11 p.m. EST and ended at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday morning, a U.S. Open record-breaking time. Shelton upset Alcaraz in a five-set showdown that cemented a United States-born player’s place in the final round. The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "US Open: Ben Shelton powers through Carlos Alcaraz in historic, late-night thriller",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/us-open-ben-shelton-powers-through-carlos-alcaraz-in-historic-late",
        "published": "2026-09-09T07:35:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Ben Shelton stuns defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to reach US Open semis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/ben-shelton-stuns-defending-champion-carlos-alcaraz-to-reach-us-open",
        "published": "2026-09-09T07:44:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Shelton ends Alcaraz’s title reign in late-night marathon, will face Tiafoe in US Open semis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/shelton-ends-alcarazs-title-reign-in-late-night-marathon-will-face",
        "published": "2026-09-09T08:03:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Shelton beats Alcaraz in latest-ever US Open finish to reach semis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/shelton-beats-alcaraz-in-latest-ever-us-open-finish-to-reach-semis",
        "published": "2026-09-09T09:03:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Shelton ends Alcaraz's title in late-night marathon, will face Tiafoe in US Open",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/shelton-ends-alcarazs-title-in-late-night-marathon-will-face-tiafoe",
        "published": "2026-09-09T10:35:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "'That was some tennis': Tendulkar hails Shelton-Alcaraz US Open thriller",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/that-was-some-tennis-tendulkar-hails-shelton-alcaraz-us-open-thriller",
        "published": "2026-09-09T12:32:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SB Nation",
        "title": "Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz made staying up until 3:33 a.m. worth it at the US Open",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/ben-shelton-and-carlos-alcaraz-made-staying-up-until-3-33-a-m-worth",
        "published": "2026-09-09T13:48:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}