Carlos Alcaraz on US Open quarter-final and Laver Cup

Carlos Alcaraz lost to Ben Shelton in a US Open quarter-final that ended at 3:34am. The 23-year-old Spaniard, competing in his first tournament in over five months, called the grueling four-hour, 28-minute battle a gift despite the defeat.

Alcaraz was filmed walking down the Arthur Ashe tunnel with a huge grin after the match. He had not known if he would play in New York until a week before, following a wrist injury that caused him daily pain and forced him to miss Wimbledon and not defend his French Open title. The match against Shelton was the latest finish in the tournament's history, a scheduling issue Alcaraz criticized. He suggested a maximum finish time of 11pm or earlier, noting the court could have been packed if played earlier. "I suffered, but I enjoyed and that's why I smiled when I walked out of the court because I missed that feeling," Alcaraz said. He stated playing so late is simply too much.

Absence from tour and physical toll

Alcaraz's five-month layoff was part of a wider injury crisis affecting the tour's top players. He is one of several stars who missed large chunks of the season. Britain's Jack Draper ended his season early to recover from an arm injury, while Jannik Sinner missed the US Open entirely with a knee problem. Alcaraz did not compete at Wimbledon and did not defend his French Open title, with the wrist issue leaving him in pain every day before his US Open return.

Generational rivalry with Sinner

The fragmented season has also stalled the burgeoning rivalry between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The pair have split eight Grand Slam titles between them since 2024 but have met only once this year, in the Monte Carlo Masters final which Sinner won to become world number one. Alcaraz admits he misses their contests. He said he has texted Sinner a few times, particularly when the Italian was winning everything early in the year. "I miss him, I miss seeing him around, playing against him. He pushes me to be a better player," Alcaraz stated. He added that people will be waiting for their future matches, which he believes will be even better. To ensure he is ready for those battles, Alcaraz confirmed he will miss some future tournaments to protect his mental and physical health.

Laver Cup outlook and team ethos

Next for Alcaraz is the Laver Cup in London. He will compete for Team Europe, captained by Yannick Noah, against a World team overseen by Andre Agassi at The O2 from September 25-27. Alcaraz described the unique team environment as a powerful motivator. When you have your team-mates, the best in the world, by your side, it's a weird feeling but it's beautiful, he said. He added that the team plays like their lives depend on it, which is why the event is so compelling to watch.

The late-night finishes in New York were not unique to Alcaraz's match. Alexander Zverev finished past 1am in three of his first five matches at Flushing Meadows. Venus Williams also concluded her first-round match at 2am. Carlos Alcaraz will next compete for Team Europe at the Laver Cup at The O2 in London between 25-27 September.