Frances Tiafoe came back from two sets down to beat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) on Tuesday and reach the US Open semifinals. Tiafoe also trailed 3-0 in the fifth set but fought back once again. He finally won the match after 4 hours, 38 minutes.After the match, Tiafoe went to the other side of the net and hugged Michelsen, who cried on his shoulder after a painful end to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
‘I definitely waited for the last minute’
Tiafoe admitted he made a poor start to the match and struggled to find his rhythm.“It wasn’t good, let’s put it that way. It wasn’t good,” he said. “Three out of five is a blessing, because you have time to get it together. I definitely waited for the last minute.”The No. 11 seed has now reached the US Open semifinals for the third time. He also made the last four in 2022 and 2024.Tiafoe will face the winner of the quarterfinal between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and No. 8 seed Ben Shelton.
Michelsen lets Tiafoe back into the match
Michelsen looked in control after winning the first two sets. He also led 3-0 in the fifth and looked close to reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal.But Tiafoe refused to give up.Michelsen was serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set when he made two straight double faults. Tiafoe eventually broke after Michelsen failed to finish a shot at the net.“I feel the first three sets I was on top of him. I feel like he didn’t really — he wasn’t playing like Frances. Then I kind of let him back in at 5-4,” Michelsen said. “Then after that, he was playing like Frances does on Ashe. After that, it was a dogfight.”Tiafoe then won the third set and levelled the match by taking the fourth.
Tiafoe keeps fighting in the fifth
Michelsen again put Tiafoe under pressure in the deciding set, breaking early to take a 3-0 lead. Tiafoe became frustrated at one point and smashed his racket on the court. But he recovered once again. In the match tiebreak, Tiafoe won three straight points to move 7-4 ahead. Michelsen won the next two points, but Tiafoe responded with a 135 mph ace and took control again.Tiafoe eventually completed the comeback after four hours and 38 minutes.
Tiafoe makes more history
Tiafoe has now joined Andre Agassi as the only American men to reach three US Open semifinals this century. He will also return to the top 10 in the next rankings for the first time in three years. Michelsen, ranked No. 46, fell to 0-6 in matches that go to a fifth set.Tiafoe will now wait for the winner of Alcaraz and Shelton. He plans to watch the match.“I’m going to enjoy this one, though. Let’s go!” he told the crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
