Tiafoe consoles tearful Michelsen after remarkable US Open comeback

Frances Tiafoe turned a seemingly lost US Open quarter-final into one of the tournament’s most dramatic comebacks, beating fellow American Alex Michelsen after trailing by two sets and a break.

The 11th seed was outplayed through much of the opening half of the match. Michelsen, ranked 46th in the world, took the first set after breaking at 6-5, having struck 15 winners to Tiafoe’s four. His backhand continued to trouble Tiafoe in the second set, and Michelsen moved ahead by a break early in the third.

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In the end I slowly started to get my rhythm. Snuck out that third set and got better and better.

The match changed when Michelsen served for victory at 5-4 in the third set. Two double faults allowed Tiafoe to break, level the set and then take it. Tiafoe carried that momentum into the fourth, winning the first three games before forcing a deciding set.

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He's a hell of a player and he easily could have won today. Shout out to Alex Michelsen.

The final set brought multiple breaks and momentum shifts that energized the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Tiafoe, a favorite with the New York spectators, prevailed in the 10-point tie-break to win 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6). The match lasted four hours and 38 minutes.

“In the end I slowly started to get my rhythm. Snuck out that third set and got better and better,” Tiafoe said. “He’s a hell of a player and he easily could have won today. Shout out to Alex Michelsen.” Michelsen was competing in his first Grand Slam quarter-final and was in tears as the pair embraced. Tiafoe will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or fellow American Ben Shelton in the semi-finals, as he seeks his first US Open final after losing to Alcaraz in 2022 and Taylor Fritz in 2024.

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Everyone was asleep in the first couple of hours, I was too. As it went along the energy was incredible as it is always. You guys are rooting for me and I appreciate that.