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Tiafoe Overcomes Michelsen in Thrilling US Open Match
Confirmed
In Short: In a dramatic five-set battle, Frances Tiafoe came from two sets and a break down to defeat fellow American Alex Michelsen and advance to his third US Open semifinal.
Frances Tiafoe overcame a daunting deficit to defeat fellow American Alex Michelsen in a thrilling five-set match at the US Open, securing his place in the semifinals for the third time in five years. The 28-year-old Tiafoe, who had been trailing 5-3 in the third set, mounted a remarkable comeback to win 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6).
Michelsen, who was competing in his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the age of 22, was in tears as he and Tiafoe embraced on the court after the grueling four-hour and 38-minute match. Tiafoe, known for his competitive spirit, praised his opponent, saying, 'He's a hell of a player and he easily could have won today. Shout out to Alex Michelsen.
The match began with Michelsen jumping out to an early lead, breaking Tiafoe's serve in the third game of the first set. However, Tiafoe's resilience shone through as he fought back, particularly in the third set where he managed to break Michelsen at 5-4. Tiafoe's determination paid off in the tie-break, securing the set and the match.
Despite the emotional post-match embrace, Tiafoe expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, 'For him to go through all that work, to fight to put himself in this position, it's great to see.' Tiafoe will now face either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or American eighth seed Ben Shelton in the semifinals.
Michelsen, who had not dropped a set prior to facing Tiafoe, admitted that the match was a significant learning experience. 'He's a great guy for consoling me in that moment,' said Michelsen, referring to their post-match embrace. The young American's performance at the US Open has been impressive, but Tiafoe's comeback highlights his ability to rise to the occasion in high-pressure situations.
What's still developing
- Jessica Pegula has booked a third straight US Open face-off with Aryna Sabalenka, grinding out a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Emma Navarro to set up a semifinal clash with the two-time defending champion and the world’s top-ranked women’s player.
- Third-seeded Pegula needed two hours and 20 minutes to get past Navarro on Tuesday, recovering from an early break in the third set of a tense baseline battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- In a final set of multiple breaks and swings of momentum, Tiafoe triumphed in the 10-point tie-break to win 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6 (10-6).
- Tiafoe is hoping to reach the final at Flushing Meadows for the first time, following semi-final defeats by Alcaraz in 2022 and Taylor Fritz in 2024.
- "For him to go through all that work, to fight to put himself in this position its great to see." While it has taken until now for Tiafoe's renewed work-ethic to bear fruit in a major, he is unequivocal when asked how he compares to the player that reached the last four previously in New York.