Shelton secured the biggest victory of his young professional career in a tiebreaker shortly after 3:30 a.m.ET, becoming the first American man to defeat either Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner at a Grand Slam.
His victory, coupled with Frances Tiafoe’s five-set win over fellow American Alex Michelsen in the other men’s quarterfinal, guaranteed that at least one American would reach the 2026 U.S.Open final.The last time an American-born man brought home the men's singles title at the U.S.
Open was in 2003, when Roddick won his lone Grand Slam.Ben Shelton of the United States (R) shakes hands with Spain's Carlos Alcaraz after winning the men's singles quarter-final tennis match on day ten of the U.S.Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Sept.
9, 2026.(Leonardo MUNOZ / AFP via Getty Images)On a recent edition of his "Served" podcast, Roddick addressed criticism surrounding the tournament's late-night schedule and overall logistics, making clear he had no regrets about how the match ultimately turned out.NOVAK DJOKOVIC SUFFERS STUNNING DEFEAT IN FIRST ROUND OF US OPEN AFTER TRYING TO BATTLE THROUGH AILMENTS"I know a lot of the comments are, you know, ‘How do you finish at four in the morning?’ and all of that," Roddick said.
"Well, every match goes to a match tiebreak except for one.And you’ve got to get 25,000 people out of a stadium responsibly, and you’ve got to get 25,000 people in responsibly.
So, I hear a lot of complaining.I don’t hear a lot of proposed solutions."Andy Roddick looks on during an exhibition doubles match against Switzerland’s Roger Federer and John McEnroe at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during Fan Week on Aug.
25, 2026, in Flushing, Queens, New York City.(Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)Roddick stood by the Grand Slam's late-night session format while conceding that a five-hour match could test viewers’ patience, echoing a concern raised by sports podcaster B...