Frances Tiafoe, the No. 11 seed, delivered a forehand winner down the right line in New York on Tuesday to complete one of the largest comebacks of his career, advancing to the semifinals of the U.S. Open with a 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over fellow American Alex Michelsen.
Michelsen built a two sets to love lead at Arthur Ashe Stadium, serving for the victory in the third set before Tiafoe broke his serve and rallied to win three straight games and force a fourth set.
“He’s a hell of a player, and he easily could have won today,” Tiafoe said in the post-match on-court interview.
After powering through for a fourth-set win, Tiafoe overcame an early three-game deficit to force a fifth-set tiebreak.
The four-hour, 38-minute marathon finally came to an end when Tiafoe built a 9-6 advantage in the tiebreak and then connected on his winner in front of an energetic crowd.
“The energy was incredible, as it is always,” Tiafoe said to the appreciative crowd afterwards. “You guys were really for me and I really appreciate that.”
Tiafoe improved to 3-0 against the 22-year-old Michelsen, who acquitted himself well despite the loss.
Michelsen at times showed dominant form with 21 aces. The world’s 46th-ranked player also endured 61 unforced errors, helping to open the door for the Tiafoe comeback.
“He gave me some gifts, a couple double faults there, but then I slowly, slowly started to get my rhythm there,” Tiafoe acknowledged.
It cemented Tiafoe’s third semifinal at a major of his career, all at the U.S. Open (2022, 2024). Tiafoe now awaits the winner of the Carlos Alcaraz versus Ben Shelton match later in the day.
“For sure I’ll watch, but I’m going to enjoy this one,” Tiafoe said of the evening match.
–Field Level Media
