Frances Tiafoe (Image credit: X)
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. He also led 3-0 in the fifth and looked close to reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal. Michelsen was serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set when he made two straight double faults. Michelsen again put Tiafoe under pressure in the deciding set, breaking early to take a 3-0 lead. 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 then won the third set and levelled the match by taking the fourth. 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. Tiafoe admitted he made a poor start to the match and struggled to find his rhythm. Michelsen looked in control after winning the first two sets. Tiafoe eventually broke after Michelsen failed to finish a shot at the net. Tiafoe became frustrated at one point and smashed his racket on the court. But he recovered once again.