Frances Tiafoe secured a spot in his third career US Open semifinal after staging a dramatic comeback against American compatriot Alex Michelsen. The 11th seed ultimately prevailed with a 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Tiafoe's win marks him as the first American man to reach the semifinals of this year's tournament. The match was a hard-fought contest, with Michelsen dominating the first two sets and holding a match point in the third before Tiafoe began his ascent.
"Obviously, he gave me some gifts, and slowly, slowly I tried to get my rhythm back, and then kept getting better," Tiafoe said after the match. "But he's a hell of a player, and easily could have won today, so shout out Alex Michelsen."
Michelsen, a Grand Slam quarterfinal debutant, was visibly emotional after the loss, leaving the court in tears. Tiafoe, admired by the younger player, offered a consoling hug at the net.
The early stages of the match saw a subdued atmosphere, with many spectators having departed after a previous match. Both players struggled to hold serve in the opening set. Tiafoe expressed frustration with his game early on, reportedly stating his game "wasn't f***ing working" in the second set. He acknowledged being "asleep" in the initial hours of the match, crediting the crowd for later providing the energy to fuel his comeback.
Michelsen's strong serving game propelled him through the early sets. However, Tiafoe managed a crucial break in the third set, initiating a run of games that forced a fourth set and extended the match by nearly two hours. Tiafoe continued his momentum into the fourth set, but both players showed signs of fatigue in a tight fifth set.
After an early break by Michelsen in the fifth, Tiafoe fought back to level the set at 3-3. The decisive moments came in the final tiebreak, where Tiafoe's serving, which had faltered earlier, proved to be a critical weapon. His strong serve ultimately sealed the victory over a resilient Michelsen.
Tiafoe has previously expressed a preference for playing on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where he holds an undefeated record. His performance on Arthur Ashe Stadium, however, suggests a growing comfort on the tournament's main court. He now awaits the winner of the match between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.
