Carlos Alcaraz’s run at the US Open came to an end in a five-set loss to Ben Shelton, and Greg Rusedski believes one tactical choice may have influenced the result. The world No 3, whose title defence was halted by a 7-6(5), 1-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7(7) defeat, was beaten by the ninth-ranked Shelton in a four-hour-and-28-minute match at Flushing Meadows.

Alcaraz had been seeking a third US Open title and an eighth Grand Slam crown overall. He also arrived having played his first tournament since sustaining a right wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April.

The contest turned on narrow margins. Alcaraz led 5-3 and 6-5 in the deciding-set tiebreak, but Shelton edged the closing points to finish the job. Speaking on his Off Court With Greg Rusedski podcast, the former world No 4 argued that Alcaraz’s positioning on return gave Shelton too much room to operate.

“I think it was a little bit of a tactical mistake [from Alcaraz],” said the 1997 US Open finalist.

Rusedski suggested that standing so deep reduced Shelton’s aces but did not take enough time away from him. He said that approach gave Shelton more choices, including serve and volley patterns and a quicker first strike when Alcaraz sent the ball back with height.

“So, I think I would like to see Carlos try to stand in a little bit more at times like [Jannik] Sinner does, and that’s why Sinner does so well against Shelton is the way he reads it and he steps in and takes it a little bit earlier.

“When you give Shelton that option, and especially with the cleverness of the tactics of serving and volleying, and coming in and striking, and getting in as quick as you can, it was a good play.

“For me, sometimes you give up the aces to get that one or two games where you have a chance to break, because if Shelton’s hitting his spots, it’s almost impossible to break.

“He went the distance, it came down to one or two points, and Shelton played the big points fractionally better, and also in part just because Alcaraz has been away for so long.

“It has been mighty impressive what the Spaniard has done in his first week and a bit back from tennis after four and a half months.”

Martina Navratilova has stepped into the debate over the US Open’s late-night scheduling after Ben Shelton’s dramatic win over Carlos Alcaraz ended deep into Wednesday morning.

Shelton defeated Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) in a quarter-final that lasted four hours and 28 minutes. The American, 23, has now reached his second semi-final at the New York Grand Slam and will meet Frances Tiafoe on Friday.

The contest began after 11pm on Tuesday and finished at 3:33am on Wednesday, making it the latest finish in US Open history. For Navratilova, that was another sign that the tournament has pushed the schedule too far.

In response to a tweet from tennis writer Christopher Clarey about the night-session setup, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion wrote: “Something has got to give… this is not ok and it is not normal … no other sport might start at 11 AM or 11 PM. In the same event,”

The Shelton-Alcaraz match was not the only one at this year’s event to run into the early hours. Alexander Zverev’s five-set victories in the first and second round finished at 1:55am and 2:15am.

The women’s event has also produced extreme start times. Sofia Kenin’s opening-round win over Venus Williams began at 12:13am, setting a US Open record for the latest match start time, and ended just before 2am.

Navratilova expanded on her concerns after the Kenin-Williams match while speaking on Sky Sports. “It was the latest start for a women’s match ever. After midnight, and it could have been later. Tennis is the only sport that does this. I think it’s crazy,” said the former world No 1.

She added: “I think they need to fix the night session. It’s too late. I think they should play men’s singles and then maybe a doubles match. If you do women’s singles you can still have another doubles match, or another women’s singles. You’ll see get four sets of play minimum.

“Even if you put the women’s match on first and it’s three sets, the guys start by 10pm. If a men’s match goes five sets, you start at midnight.

“You’re never on the court at midnight and you never start a match at midnight, so it’s counterproductive for everybody, spectators and the players.”

Ben Shelton outlasted Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic US Open quarter-final that stretched deep into the early morning in New York. The match unfolded on Arthur Ashe Stadium and needed five sets before the American finally closed it out, securing one of the biggest wins of his career.

It was a contest that rarely looked settled, with both players finding spells of control before the balance shifted again. In the end, Shelton had enough firepower to move through to the US Open semi-finals for only the second time in his career, while Alcaraz fell short of defending his title.

Even with the defeat, Alcaraz leaves Flushing Meadows with positives. He arrived at the tournament carrying injury concerns, yet still produced a strong run. His mood after the loss reflected that view, and he spoke openly about wanting to turn the page and get back to work.

Speaking to Alex Corretja on Spanish television, Alcaraz said: “We’re leaving very happy; we’ve walked off the court smiling. It’s not pleasant to lose, but you have to see the positive side of matches like these.

“In the end, you play for matches like this one. I’m eager to get back home, to train, to compete, and in the end, this is what we’ve been missing, and getting back home healthy is the most important thing.”

Alcaraz’s next event is already set, and it will bring him back into contact with Shelton. He is confirmed for Team Europe at the Laver Cup, which will be staged at The O2 Arena in London from September 25 to 27.

That event will be Alcaraz’s first in the UK this year after wrist problems forced him out of Queen’s and Wimbledon. It will also mark his third Laver Cup appearance, with a 6-2 record in singles and doubles and 15 points earned for Team Europe from his previous two outings.