India, Sept. 9 -- We're into the seventh game of the fifth set, right after the two players have split the 280 points exactly between them over nearly 200 minutes of tennis until then.

Ben Shelton's serve is feeling the heat at 0-30. Carlos Alcaraz steps up to the baseline for a second serve, only for his attacking mindset to meet a netted return execution. Another Shelton second serve comes up. This time, Alcaraz goes way back. Shelton sees it, and springs in for a serve-and-volley that presses Alcaraz to net a return again.

This was a classic cat-and-mouse game. Except, this was played out by two beasts stretching their physical limits while going toe-to-toe for four hours and 28 minutes in the latest finish ever at the US Open.

At l...