Carlos Alcaraz VOMITS into towel and begs cameraman to stop filming during gruelling US Open match with 3.33am finish

CARLOS ALCARAZ vomited during his gruelling late night defeat to Ben Shelton at the US Open. The five-set classic did not conclude until 3:33am, setting a new record for the tournament’s latest ever finish. Carlos Alcaraz threw up into his towel during his defeat to Ben Shelton Credit: ESPN Alcaraz, 23, was unwell ahead of the crucial fifth set Credit: ESPN Ahead of the deciding fifth set, Alcaraz vomited into his towel. The usually affable Spaniard appeared frustrated with a cameraman filming him while he was sick. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Alcaraz, 23, shooed the cameraman away before throwing up. The seven-time Major champion then composed himself ahead of the fifth set, but went on to agonisingly lose it in a deciding tie-break. Alcaraz shooed away a cameraman as he felt unwell Credit: Sky Sports The former world No1 did not want a close up shot of his unfortunate moment Credit: Sky Sports Play was delayed due to a series of long matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The start of the night session was pushed back by more than an hour due to marathon victories for Aryna Sabalenka and Frances Tiafoe. Jessica Pegula then took two hours and 20 minutes to beat Emma Navarro, meaning that Shelton vs Alcaraz did not begin until after 11pm local time. It was already well beyond 2am when Alcaraz clinched the fourth set before throwing up. Most read in Tennis BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Alcaraz claps the fans that stayed for the duration of his gruelling loss Credit: Reuters This was not the first late finish of the tournament, with both of Alexander Zverev‘s early round tussles concluding in the early hours. Nor was it the first time a high-profile player has been sick on court, with Novak Djokovic having spewed during his loss to Mariano Navone. Alcaraz was gracious following his heartbreaking 6-7 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 defeat to Shelton. The popular former world No1 smiled as he congratulated his opponent at the net before clapping the fans that stayed for the duration of the late-night tussle. Alcaraz, who came into the tournament having missed nearly five months with a wrist injury, was not too downbeat after his defeat. The dethroned reigning Flushing Meadows champion insisted: “As I said before the tournament began, my expectation was to go there, compete, play in these kind of matches for me being healthy. “It was close. It was close. So I’m just not going to be disappointed about don’t getting the win at the end. You know, I’m just happy. “I’m just proud about myself, about how I fought. After the third set, physically I was really tired, but you know I found a way to push myself up and physically giving extra.” Alcaraz was gracious in defeat as he congratulated Shelton at the net Credit: Getty Shelton performed his trademark phone celebration Credit: EPA Alcaraz was then very complimentary of Shelton, who had just beaten him for a first time in four attempts. The Murcia man added: “I was playing against one of the best – he is a beast. Shelton is an unbelievable player, powerful. “He just managed how to play really, really well in every situation, so credit to him. I leave the court happy. I leave the court with a smile, healthy, and this is what I needed.” Shelton will face Tiafoe in the semi-finals, guaranteeing an American finalist as the US looks to end its 23-year wait for a men’s singles champion at Flushing Meadows. The action continues on the other side of the draw tonight, with Karen Khachanov taking on Alexander Blockx and No1 seed Alexander Zverev battling Botic van de Zandschulp. Comment now