US Open ATP Day Five Round-Up | Ben Shelton forced into late night epic as Carlos Alcaraz the pick of the bunch

Carlos Alcaraz found his groove, while Ben Shelton won a late night epic as the US Open continued on Friday with the big names certainly not having it their own way but managing to get through anyway.

Alcaraz faced off against Yibing Wu and he stood to firm resolve as he won through 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, but while the scoreline might tell one story. The reality is semi different as he had to survive real pressure against a big hitting opponenet.

Alcaraz was competing in his first event since April after a right wrist injury and currently is sitting at a 17-match winning streak at Grand Slam level. He had a break advantage in both of the opening two sets. Wu unloaded from his favoured forehand wing and Alcaraz not at his best had to survive a modicum of pressure. The 23-year-old kept applying pressure on return and found his best when it mattered. He took a commanding two set lead albeit was looking at his box to say that he was in bother. Wu carved out break chances to begin the third set, but Alcaraz saved both of them as he wrestled back momentum and fought his way towards the fourth round.

He now faces off against Tommy Paul who fought past Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 6-1, 6-3. Paul trails Alcaraz in their Head-to-Head at 2-6 and now Paul aims to become the only active American to reach the Quarter-Finals at all four major tournaments albeit will have to beat Alcaraz to do so. He achieved that feat at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon so ironically only needs to tick off his home tournament.

“I think today there was a really high rhythm,” Alcaraz said. “The way he plays is unbelievable, the rhythm he has on every shot: forehand, backhand. His balls skid a lot on the court and, for me, it’s really difficult to control sometimes. But I think I stayed there. I played aggressive, I played smart in the toughest moments.”

“I’m better than I thought,” Alcaraz continued discussing his injury. “Physically, I thought I was going to be dead after the first match. But I’m recovering really well. I’m doing great things off the court just to be in good shape. Right now, I think my level is really good. I’ve got into the rhythm of the competition. Every time I step on the court, I give it my all.”

In the main event, Ben Shelton took primetime slot. But was forced into four sets as he played into the early hours of the morning in a tie similar to Venus Williams v Sofia Kenin in terms of its lateness on the schedule.

Shelton won the first narrowly and fans would've thought it was set to be a long night as while the American sealed the first 7-3, the second also went to a tie-break which saw Shapovalov hit back and send Shelton's plans of a potential early finish up the wall. But Shelton rallied. He claimed the last two sets 6-3, 6-4 to move through to the next round. But after over three hours, questions certainly reign again about scheduling as we again approached the early hours of the morning.

Other results included Daniil Medvedev who won pretty easily in the end against Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Stefanos Tsitsipas like Medvedev continued his revival as he won 6-2, 1-6, 6-7, 1-6 to defeat Jiri Lehecka. While Djokovic conqueror Mariano Navone fell to his compatriot Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

Alex Michelsen kept home hopes alive like Paul and claimed 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 over Dani Merida while Frances Tiafoe too made it a double dose as he took down Valentin Vacherot 4-6, 2-6, 4-6 to move through. Superb from both as Shelton, Paul, Tiafoe and Michelsen make it some day for the Americans.