At the end, when five riveting sets and one agonisingly tight tiebreak were over – and when the latest-finishing match in US Open history had concluded – Ben Shelton was not the only player smiling.Carlos Alcaraz, the player Shelton had just defeated in an entertaining, spine-tingling marathon, was smiling too.The dethroned defending champ grinned as he walked to the net to hug Shelton. And he did so again a few minutes later when he stood in a hallway surrounded by reporters, reflecting on a night that seemed to have taken every ounce of his strength to endure.“I leave the court happy,” Alcaraz said. “I leave the court with a smile. I am proud of myself, how I fought.”There was probably not a single person in Arthur Ashe Stadium who would have disagreed.Ben Shelton’s win sets up a last-four clash with compatriot Frances Tiafoe. Photo: EPAThough many of the thousands of fans who remained until the 3.33am conclusion – yes, you read that time right – cheered for Shelton, the top-ranked American who now meets compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the semis, there were plenty who cheered for Alcaraz, one of the most charismatic players of his or any generation, and one of the most naturally gifted players ever born.