Carlos Alcaraz appears to have firmly found his rhythm, producing back-to-back straight-set wins over Yibing Wu and Tommy Paul. Those were surprisingly high-level performances for a player returning to action after a five-month injury break, and the Spaniard now looks much closer to his best level.
With that kind of form, Alcaraz should be well placed to negotiate Ben Shelton as well. He also holds a dominant 3-0 head-to-head record against the American, giving him another psychological advantage heading into this matchup.
Alcaraz Looks To Maintain His Quarterfinal Excellence
- Shelton is 2–3 in quarterfinal matches at Grand Slam tournaments.
- He has a 1–6 record against Top 5 players at Grand Slam tournaments.
- Alcaraz has a 3–1 record in quarterfinal matches at Grand Slam tournaments.
- He has a 13–0 record against American opponents at Grand Slam tournaments.
HTH - Carlos Alcaraz leads 3-0
| Year | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | French Open | R16 | Clay | Carlos Alcaraz | 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 2024 | Laver Cup | — | Indoor | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2023 | Toronto | 2R | Hard | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-3, 7-6(3) |
Shelton Sets Up Blockbuster Quarterfinal Against Alcaraz
Ben Shelton defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to secure his place in the quarterfinals at the US Open, winning 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. He did not face a single break point during the match and converted four of the six break points he created.
With this run, Shelton has become the fourth American left-hander to reach multiple US Open quarterfinals after Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Roscoe Tanner.
Except for his opening-round loss in Cincinnati, Shelton has posted solid results throughout the North American swing, defending his title at the Canadian Open and reaching the quarterfinals in Washington. He has continued to build that momentum this week.
He will be pleased with his performance after suffering early exits at his previous two Grand Slams this year. Shelton has played nine quarterfinals in 2026 and won four of them, converting all four victories into titles, including his recent triumph in Montreal.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Age | Born 9 October 2002 |
| Plays | Left-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 9 |
| Career High | No. 5 (10 November 2025) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 7 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 7 |
Alcaraz Keeps His Grand Slam Consistency Going
Carlos Alcaraz moved into the quarterfinals after defeating Tommy Paul in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. He won 75% of his first-serve points and lost his serve just once during the match.
This is Alcaraz's 15th quarterfinal appearance in 21 Grand Slam main-draw appearances, highlighting his impressive consistency at this stage of his career.
The Spaniard made a strong start to the year before a wrist injury halted his progress. Overall, he has played only six events this year and, apart from a couple of early exits, reached at least the semifinals in his other four tournaments, including titles at the Australian Open and Doha.
The World No. 2 has already played four US Open quarterfinals. Except for his retirement loss at this stage during his debut in 2021, he has won his next three quarterfinal matches here.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Age | Born 5 May 2003 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 3 |
| Career High | No. 1 (12 September 2022) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 2 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 27 |