Frances Tiafoe comes back from two sets down to stun Michelsen to reach the US Open semi-finals

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 to reach the semi-finals of the US Open. Tiafoe was also down 3-0 in the fifth set but fought back. He eventually won the match after 4 hours and 38 minutes.After the match, Tiafoe went to the other side of the net and embraced Michelsen, who cried on his shoulder after the painful end to the first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

“I was definitely waiting for the last minute”

Tiafoe admitted that he entered the match poorly and struggled to find his rhythm.“It wasn’t good, let’s put it that way. It wasn’t good,” he said. “Three out of five is a blessing because you have time to put it together. I was definitely waiting for the last minute.”The seeded eleven has now reached the semi-finals of the US Open for the third time. He also did the last four in 2022 and 2024.Tiafoe will face the winner of the quarterfinal between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and eighth seed Ben Shelton.

Michelsen lets Tiafoe back into the match

Michelsen looked in control after winning the first two sets. He was also up 3-0 in the fifth and looked close to reaching his first grand slam semi-final.But Tiafoe refused to give up.Michelsen served for the match at 5-4 in the third set when he made two straight double faults. Tiafoe eventually broke after Michelsen failed to finish a shot on net.“I feel like I had the upper hand on him the first three sets. I feel like he wasn’t really doing it — he wasn’t playing like Frances. Then I let him back a little bit at 5-4,” Michelsen said. “Then after that he played as Frances on Ash. Then it was a brawl.”Tiafoe then won the third set and leveled the match by taking the fourth.

Tiafoe continues to fight in the fifth

Michelsen once again put Tiafoe under pressure in the deciding set and took an early 3-0 lead. Tiafoe got frustrated at one point and smashed his racquet on the court. But he recovered again. In the tiebreak of the match, Tiafoe won three straight points to advance 7-4. Michelsen scored two more points, but Tiafoe responded with a 135 mph ace to take control again.Tiafoe finally completed the comeback after four hours and 38 minutes.

Tiafoe is making more history

Tiafoe has now joined Andre Agassi as the only Americans to reach three US Open semifinals this century. He will also return to the top 10 in the next ranking for the first time in three years. Michelsen, ranked No. 46, fell to 0-6 in matches going into the fifth set.Tiafoe will now await the winner of Alcaraz and Shelton. He plans to watch the match.“I’ll enjoy this though. Let’s go!” he told the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.