Carlos Alcaraz's Late-Night US Open Loss Sets Record and Extends Title Defense Drought
At the 2026 US Open, Carlos Alcaraz lost a five-set quarterfinal to Ben Shelton in a match lasting over four hours and ending at 3:33 am, setting a new record for the latest finish in the tournament's 145-year history. The marathon match has intensified calls for scheduling changes to address late finishes affecting players and spectators. Alcaraz's defeat ended his 18-match Grand Slam winning streak and continued the 'US Open curse,' as no male player has defended the title in New York since Roger Federer in 2008.
First-hand measurement across 2 sources
We measured how 2 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is neutral (51/100). Lens Score 30/100.
Outlets measured: news18, hindustantimes. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (50–52/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
hindustantimes broke this story on 9 Sept, 03:42 pm. Other outlets followed.