US Open quarter-finals
LIVE: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz forces deciding fifth set against Ben Shelton at 02:20am local time
Will be latest-ever finish in US Open history, surpassing Alcaraz's 02:50am win over Jannik Sinner in 2022
Seven-time major winner Alcaraz in first tournament since long-term absence with wrist injury
Eighth seed Shelton has never beaten Alcaraz before
Time in New York five hours behind UK - match started after 11pm local time
Winner will face Frances Tiafoe, who came from two sets down to beat fellow American Alex Michelsen
*Alcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 5-6 Shelton
Shelton races into a 40-0 lead but a tired backhand goes long to put Alcaraz on the board.
Alcaraz then responds with a loose return of his own to give the American the hold and he has another chance to book a place in the semi-finals now.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 5-5 Shelton*
Alcaraz puffs his cheeks out and gives a look up to his box.
He's just served to stay in the tournament but Shelton will be disappointed that he wasn't able to put more pressure on the Spaniard.
Image source, Getty Images*Alcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 4-5 Shelton
Has the pendulum swung again?
Shelton holds at breakneck speed and he's a break away from knocking out the defending champion in New York City.
What are you made of, Carlos?
Image source, Getty ImagesAlcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 4-4 Shelton*
This is astonishing.
Alcaraz mustered something from deep there, and he lets out an almighty sigh of relief as he levels up again.
The match has just ticked into a fifth hour.
Image source, Getty Images*Alcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 3-4 Shelton
Oh, my word.
Shelton earns two break points with a stunning backhand passing shot but he squanders the first of them with a deep slice and Alcaraz saves the second with a neck-breaking sprint.
Deuce.
*Alcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 3-4 Shelton
I said earlier that we'd see what Shelton was made of. I think we just have.
The American falls 0-30 behind but fights back again, producing a couple of textbook huge serves that Alcaraz can barely get a racquet too.
Alcaraz will be kicking himself at another missed opportunity to break.
Alcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 3-3 Shelton*
As the crowd witness history, there's still nothing to separate these two.
Alcaraz holds and Shelton barely lays a glove on his opponent's service game again.
At this point it feels like this set will come down to whether Alcaraz can break Shelton - or we're looking at a tie-break.
*Alcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 2-3 Shelton
Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent in New York
Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton will now record the latest-ever finish in US Open history.
The clock has just ticked over 02:50 - which is the time Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in the previous latest finish in the quarter-finals of 2022.
This is the fourth post-2am finish of the tournament, and on another night play wrapped up at 01:55.
*Alcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 2-3 Shelton
Oh my goodness.
With the game locked at 30-30, Alcaraz hits a stunning forehand winner that clips the line and leaves Shelton stunned.
Shelton saves a break point with an overhead smash, before two poor returns from Alcaraz gives the American the hold. I think punters were already getting their money's worth to be fair, but this is brilliant.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 2-2 Shelton*
What a comprehensive hold that was.
Alcaraz lets out a 'vamos' as he puts Shelton back on serve in a service game that was over in a New York minute.
You sense he's really turning the screw now.
Image source, Getty Images*Alcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 1-2 Shelton
What an opportunity missed by Alcaraz.
The Spaniard goes 0-30 up but Shelton wins four points on the bounce, helped along the way with a couple of big first serves.
That was looking ominous for the American but he held his nerve - and his serve.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 1-1 Shelton*
Alcaraz does look reinvigorated after that fourth set.
He puts Shelton back on serve at the blink of an eye, hitting a couple of impressive forehands along the way.
We'll find out what Shelton's made of now.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's far from full in NYC but fair play to those that have stuck around into the small hours at Flushing Meadows.
Image source, Getty Images*Alcaraz 7-6 1-6 3-6 6-1 0-1 Shelton
After a dismal fourth set, that was just the service game the doctor ordered for the American.
The crowd let out a chorus of 'U-S-A, U-S-A' as the American switches ends.
* denotes next server
Image source, Getty ImagesAlcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 3-6 6-1 0-0 Shelton*
It is nearly 2.30am in New York City but somehow we're still going at Flushing Meadows.
Join us for the deciding fifth set as Carlos Alcaraz looks to defend his title against Ben Shelton.
Image source, Getty Images
