Carlos Alcaraz has won two US Open titles, in 2022 and 2025, and holds a 28-4 match record at Flushing Meadows through his 2026 quarterfinal exit. He has reached at least the quarterfinals in five of his six appearances, with his only earlier defeat coming in the second round in 2024.
His latest run ended against Ben Shelton in a five-set quarterfinal that finished at 3:33 a.m. on September 9, 2026, setting a new US Open record for the latest finish. The defeat left Alcaraz with a 4-1 record for the tournament and was his first five-set loss at the event. The official US Open match recap confirms the result and record finish time.
New York remains one of the defining venues of his career. His first Grand Slam title and first rise to world No. 1 both came at the 2022 US Open, while his second title in 2025 returned him to the top of the rankings. For his achievements beyond this tournament, see our Carlos Alcaraz player profile.
Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open Record at a Glance
| Category | Record through his 2026 appearance |
|---|---|
| Main-draw appearances | 6 |
| Match record | 28-4 |
| Winning percentage | 87.5% |
| Titles | 2 |
| Finals reached | 2 |
| Semifinals reached | 3 |
| Quarterfinals reached | 5 |
| Five-set match record | 5-1 |
| Best result | Champion, 2022 and 2025 |
| Most recent result | Quarterfinal, 2026 |
The round totals are cumulative: his two championship runs count toward the finals, semifinals and quarterfinals reached. His 2021 retirement against Félix Auger-Aliassime counts as a match loss.
Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open Results by Year
| Year | Result | Match record | Player who ended his run |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Quarterfinal | 4-1 | Félix Auger-Aliassime, by retirement |
| 2022 | Champion | 7-0 | None |
| 2023 | Semifinal | 5-1 | Daniil Medvedev |
| 2024 | Second round | 1-1 | Botic van de Zandschulp |
| 2025 | Champion | 7-0 | None |
| 2026 | Quarterfinal | 4-1 | Ben Shelton |
| Total | Two titles | 28-4 |
The winning percentage is calculated from 28 wins in 32 matches. Alcaraz’s 2026 results are included because his campaign is complete, even though the men’s final has not yet been played as of this update.
2021: A Breakthrough Quarterfinal at 18
Alcaraz arrived at the 2021 US Open as an exciting 18-year-old prospect and left as one of the biggest stories of the tournament. He defeated Cameron Norrie and Arthur Rinderknech before overcoming third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round.
That five-set win over Tsitsipas was followed by another five-set victory over Peter Gojowczyk. Alcaraz became the youngest men’s singles quarterfinalist at the US Open in the Open Era, but his run ended when he retired against Félix Auger-Aliassime because of injury. The tournament’s 2021 breakthrough retrospective records that milestone.
His debut produced four match wins, including two deciding-set victories. It was an early demonstration that he could compete deep into a major, even before his first championship season.
2022: First US Open Title and World No. 1
The 2022 tournament transformed Alcaraz from a leading young contender into a Grand Slam champion. His route became increasingly difficult in the second week, yet he survived three consecutive five-set matches before the final.
He defeated Marin Čilić in the fourth round, Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals and Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals. The Sinner match lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes and ended at 2:50 a.m., which was the tournament’s latest finish at the time. It remains an extreme example of how long a tennis match can last, although his 2026 match against Shelton later finished even further into the morning.
Alcaraz then beat Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 in the final. Both men entered the match with a chance to leave New York as world No. 1, so the victory delivered two career milestones at once.
At 19, Alcaraz became the youngest men’s US Open champion since Pete Sampras in 1990. He also became the youngest player to reach No. 1 since the ATP’s computerized rankings began in 1973. The tournament’s place within the wider event timeline is covered in our US Open history and records guide.
2023: Title Defense Ends in the Semifinals
Alcaraz returned in 2023 as the defending champion and top seed. He advanced past Dominik Koepfer, Lloyd Harris, Dan Evans, Matteo Arnaldi and Alexander Zverev to reach a second consecutive US Open semifinal.
Daniil Medvedev stopped the title defense with a 7-6(3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory. Alcaraz won the third set after falling two sets behind, but Medvedev closed out the match in the fourth.
The defeat ended his bid for consecutive New York titles. A 5-1 tournament record nevertheless gave him a third straight appearance in the quarterfinals or better.
2024: A Surprise Second-Round Defeat
Alcaraz opened the 2024 US Open with a four-set win over Australian qualifier Li Tu. Two days later, Botic van de Zandschulp produced one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by beating him 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.
It remains Alcaraz’s earliest US Open exit through 2026 and his only appearance without reaching the quarterfinals. His 1-1 record that year stands apart from the deeper runs on either side of it.
2025: Second Title and a Return to No. 1
Alcaraz responded to the disappointment of 2024 with an exceptionally efficient US Open run. He defeated Reilly Opelka, Mattia Bellucci, Luciano Darderi, Arthur Rinderknech and Jiří Lehečka without dropping a set.
In the semifinals, he beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2. He then defeated defending champion Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the final to claim his second New York title.
The second set of the final was the only set Alcaraz lost during the tournament. He held serve in 98 of 101 service games across his seven matches, including all but one service game against Sinner. Those figures illustrate the contrast with his three successive five-set battles in 2022.
The victory was his sixth major title at the time and returned him to world No. 1, as detailed in the ATP’s 2025 final report. Readers unfamiliar with how that position is calculated can explore our explanation of the tennis world ranking system.
2026: Shelton Ends His Title Defense in the Quarterfinals
Alcaraz entered the 2026 US Open as the defending champion and No. 2 seed. It was his first tournament since April following a right wrist injury, as the US Open’s comeback report explains.
He reached the quarterfinals with victories over Roman Safiullin, Jaime Faria, Wu Yibing and Tommy Paul. His complete route is recorded in the official 2026 men’s singles draw.
| Round | Opponent | Result | Score from Alcaraz’s perspective |
|---|---|---|---|
| First round | Roman Safiullin | Win | 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 |
| Second round | Jaime Faria | Win | 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 |
| Third round | Wu Yibing | Win | 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 |
| Fourth round | Tommy Paul | Win | 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 |
| Quarterfinal | Ben Shelton | Loss | 7-6(5), 1-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7(7) |
Against Shelton, Alcaraz took the first set, lost the next two and forced a decider by winning the fourth 6-1. Shelton eventually won the deciding-set tiebreak 10-7 to end the title defense after 4 hours and 28 minutes. The official quarterfinal report documents the match.
The contest began on September 8 and finished at 3:33 a.m. local time on September 9. That surpassed the 2:50 a.m. finish of Alcaraz’s 2022 quarterfinal against Sinner, although the Sinner match lasted longer in playing time.
The loss also ended Alcaraz’s unbeaten five-set record at the US Open. His five previous wins came against Tsitsipas and Gojowczyk in 2021, then Čilić, Sinner and Tiafoe in 2022.
Alcaraz’s Most Memorable US Open Matches
2021 Third Round vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
This was the match that introduced Alcaraz to many casual fans. He defeated the third seed 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2), 0-6, 7-6(5), recovering after a one-sided fourth set to win the deciding tiebreak.
2022 Quarterfinal vs Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz’s 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3 win remains the signature match of his first championship run. He saved a match point in the fourth set and recovered to win after 5 hours and 15 minutes.
The match established a Grand Slam chapter of a rivalry that would later produce another important New York meeting in the 2025 final. Its duration and then-record finish time are documented in the US Open’s 2022 match statistics.
2022 Final vs Casper Ruud
The final carried unusual pressure because the winner would earn both a first major title and the No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz won the third-set tiebreak decisively and maintained that momentum through the fourth set.
2025 Final vs Jannik Sinner
Their second major New York meeting delivered Alcaraz’s second US Open title. Compared with the survival act of 2022, this victory highlighted his serving: he conceded just one break during the four-set final.
2026 Quarterfinal vs Ben Shelton
The Shelton match deserves a place despite ending in defeat. It took Alcaraz to a deciding-set tiebreak, ended his run of five-set wins at this tournament and established a new benchmark for how late a US Open match could finish.
Why Alcaraz’s Game Suits the US Open
The US Open is played on outdoor hard courts. Alcaraz’s ability to change quickly between defense and attack, take the ball early and finish at the net gives him several ways to construct points on that surface. Our guide to tennis court surfaces explains how hard courts differ from clay and grass.
His forehand can create short balls, but he is also comfortable finishing with a volley or drop shot instead of remaining behind the baseline. That variety helps explain his range of successful performances in New York, from extended baseline contests to matches controlled more effectively on serve.
His results also show that a strong tournament history does not guarantee another deep run. Readers interested in his equipment can explore our detailed Carlos Alcaraz racket setup.
What US Open Records and Milestones Has Alcaraz Achieved?
His New York achievements include both age milestones and notable match records:
- Youngest men’s US Open quarterfinalist in the Open Era: he reached the last eight at 18 in 2021.
- Youngest ATP world No. 1: his 2022 title took him to the top of the computerized rankings at 19.
- First teenage men’s US Open champion since Pete Sampras: Sampras won at 19 in 1990; Alcaraz followed in 2022.
- Youngest men’s major champion since Rafael Nadal in 2005: Alcaraz reached that milestone by winning the 2022 US Open.
- Second-youngest Open Era man to win six major singles titles: he achieved this with his 2025 title at 22 years and 125 days, behind Björn Borg.
- Participant in the latest-finishing US Open match: his 2026 quarterfinal defeat to Shelton ended at 3:33 a.m., replacing the 2:50 a.m. mark from his 2022 win over Sinner.
The latest-finish record refers to the time on the clock. His 2022 quarterfinal against Sinner lasted 47 minutes longer than the 2026 Shelton match, despite finishing earlier in the morning.
What His US Open Record Shows
Two titles and a 28-4 record from six appearances make the US Open a central part of Alcaraz’s career. He has won both finals he reached, progressed to at least the quarterfinals five times and shown that he can succeed through very different routes.
His first title demanded repeated five-set escapes. His second involved losing just one set, while his 2026 return ended in a deciding-set tiebreak after four wins. Together, those results give a fuller picture than either his title count or latest defeat alone.
For tournament format, venue information and the different events played in New York, our complete guide to the US Open provides the wider context around his results.