"Starting a 5-set tennis match at 11pm is anything but healthy for an athlete" - Carlos Alcaraz fitness trainer fumes at scheduling following quarter-final exit

Thursday, 10 September 2026 at 18:00

Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton were involved in a titanic clash at the US Open enjoyed by many tennis lovers around the world as the reigning champion bowed out after the American No.1 managed to pip in a fifth set tiebreak. A big talking point was the 3:33 am finish which has not gone down well with some of Alcaraz's entourage.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion was moving up the gears after taking down Roman Safiullin, Jaime Faria, Yibing Wu and Tommy Paul to reach the quarter-finals while dropping just one set in the process.

It was an impressive return following a tennis hiatus for over four months thanks to a bruising wrist injury that cost him a lot of time on court competing in some of the biggest events tennis has to offer.

He came to Flushing Meadows with a lot of sceptics warning him of this risky venture, but he proved them wrong as he was set to tackle Shelton for a place in the semi-finals against Frances Tiaofe.

After winning a first set tiebreak, Alcaraz mustered up just four games in the resulting two sets as Shelton stamped his authority. The Spaniard showed his class to blast back level before 12 consecutive holds of serve led to the ultimate tiebreak to conclude proceedings.

Shelton stormed clear at the end to prevail in a five-set classic at a very late hour as he reached a second US Open semi-final. It was the end of the road for Alcaraz who could not get over the finishing line.

Carlos Alcaraz travelled to New York in an attempt to defend his title, but came up short in the quarter-finals

Alcaraz fitness coach slams 11pm start time

It was a gruelling test for the former World No.1. He began vomiting at 2am with the tricky contest really getting to him. With this being his first tournament since the Barcelona Open in April, concerns over his fitness were paramount.

His fitness trainer, Alberto Lledo, had been working hard with him to make sure that he was in a competitive mode to fight for the title. It was not to be in the end as Lledo went to Instagram to lament the scheduling which brought upon the latest ever finish to a match at Flushing Meadows.

“On some occasions, I know (I say this humbly) that performance is not synonymous with health,” Lledo wrote. “We have to adapt to any circumstance, and whoever does it first gains a competitive edge, but starting a 5-set tennis match at 11pm is anything but healthy for an athlete.”

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There has been a lot of speculation and chatter about these recent problems over scheduling. In the very first day of the tournament, Venus Williams and Sofia Kenin had to wait until just after midnight to begin their contest with a 2am finish the former record before Alcaraz and Shelton played their five sets under the lights.

The US Open organisers have come under scrutiny for this as the desperately seek a solution for future events so something like this does not occur again.

Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist

Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.

Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.

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