LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz walked out of Arthur Ashe Stadium smiling at 3.34am after his US Open title defence ended in a gruelling five-set defeat to Ben Shelton that lasted four hours and 28 minutes, the latest finish in tournament history. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, including this year's Australian Open, said the result felt like a gift after more than five months away with a wrist injury that left him in pain every day.
"The quarter-final was great - it was a gift for me," Alcaraz told BBC Sport before this week's Laver Cup in London. "I suffered, but I enjoyed and that's why I smiled when I walked out of the court because I missed that feeling." The 23-year-old Spaniard did not defend his French Open title or compete at Wimbledon and did not know if he would play in New York until a week before the tournament.
Alcaraz criticised the late-night scheduling at Flushing Meadows, where several matches finished in the early hours. Eventual champion Alexander Zverev finished past 1am in three of his first five matches, while Venus Williams finished her first-round match at 2am. "I think it's too much," Alcaraz said of playing so late. "The last match people stayed but if that match was played earlier, the court could have been packed. I would like to change the schedule a little with a maximum finish at 11pm or whatever would be better."
Injuries have shaped the season for the tour's leading names. Britain's Jack Draper ended his season early with a lengthy arm injury, while Alcaraz's rival Jannik Sinner missed the US Open with a knee injury. Alcaraz said at the US Open he will miss some tournaments in the future to allow himself to be "mentally and physically healthy."
Alcaraz will now compete for Team Europe at the Laver Cup at The O2 in London between 25-27 September, where Europe captained by Yannick Noah face a United States team overseen by Andre Agassi. "When you have your team-mates, the best in the world, by your side, it's a weird feeling but it's beautiful," Alcaraz said. "We played like our lives depend on it. That's why the Laver Cup is so good to watch as well." Alcaraz and Sinner split eight Grand Slam titles between them from 2024 and 2025, but have met only once this year because of injuries, with Sinner winning their sole meeting in the Monte Carlo Masters final to become world number one. "I have text him not too much, but a few times when he has been winning everything, mostly at the beginning of the year," Alcaraz added. "I miss him, I miss seeing him around, playing against him. He pushes me to be a better player. People will be waiting for those matches, so I think it's going to be better."