Carlos Alcaraz says he leaves “with a smile” after losing an epic, five-set match at the US Open to Ben Shelton. The outlets describe the contest as a long, tightly contested marathon that ends with Shelton winning a crucial tiebreak. Alcaraz is reported to smile after the match, including while hugging Shelton at the net and later during a brief media conversation in a hallway.
Both sources frame the result in the context of Alcaraz’s status as the defending champion and Shelton ending Alcaraz’s title run. They also emphasize the match’s entertainment value and the drama of the late stages, including the final, decisive set and tiebreak that helped determine the winner. While the coverage centers on Alcaraz’s reaction and sportsmanship, they provide the same broad account of the matchup: a notably lengthy US Open finish and an outcome that crowns Shelton after a prolonged battle.
