Alcaraz approached his best on Sunday and had to face Shelton, a big hit after saying he “didn’t like” his victory over Damir Dzumhur in the third round.
After the favorite had only one unchanged breakout point, the tiebreak was in the first set, but it was Sheldon who gained a huge advantage in the beginning.
With the crowd recognized, the two won many amazing points, both players were online, and Alkaraz was forced to avoid three fixed points.
After doing so, the four-time Grand Slam champions competed but were immediately under pressure in the second set.
Sheldon scored six breakthrough points in the opening game, but was rejected by Alcaraz, who turned him out late in the field to claim this critical break.
But Sheldon is far from completing, and after the two exchanged breaks in the early third set, the 22-year-old from Atlanta saved a breakthrough point, big with a score of 4-4.
A beneficial net chord gave him two fixed points in the next match, and he took the second and put pressure on his Spanish opponents.
Alcaraz quickly reorganized and led 2-1 early in the game. Sheldon couldn’t find a way back this time as the two continued to exchange compelling shots.
“Whenever we face to face, I say we’re going to raise the level to the top,” Alkaraz added.
“We entertained people. He is a very powerful player. He can make any shot.
“I think we played great tennis. Drops, went into the net, big shots, we stayed there all the game.
“It’s great to have what it is around me, and it’s a huge amount of energy for tennis and the people. I love watching him play.”
Later, Frances Tiafoe, the 15th seed in the United States, defeated Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
He will face Italy’s eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti or Denmark’s tenth seed Holger Rune in the quarterfinals – Sunday night’s match.
