Sports08 September, 20262 min read
Frances Tiafoe Rallies Past Alex Michelsen to Reach Third US Open Semifinal
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Tiafoe overcame a two-set deficit to defeat Michelsen and reach the US Open semifinal. The match lasted about 4 hours 38 minutes, a five-set comeback.
Tiafoe stuns Michelsen
Frances Tiafoe rallied from two sets down and a 5-3 deficit to beat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(10-6) and reach his third U.S. Open semifinal.
Tiafoe held Michelsen in a long embrace as the 22-year-old cried on his shoulder after the quarterfinal ended in 4 hours, 38 minutes.
The match turned when Michelsen, who had been up 3-0 in the fifth, failed to close after double-faults and Tiafoe broke to level at 5-all before forcing a tiebreak.
Tiafoe then won the deciding tiebreak and secured a semifinal spot at Flushing Meadows, where he will await the winner of Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton.
Hug, quotes, and context
Tiafoe’s consolation came immediately after the defeat, with the AP describing him as knowing “that Alex Michelsen needed the consuelo” as Michelsen sollozed on his shoulder. Tiafoe told the crowd, “He’s a hell of a player, man,” adding, “I mean, he easily could have won today so shout out to Alex Michelsen.”
Michelsen, who had entered the match having not dropped a set through the first four rounds, left the court with a towel on his head and raised his arm to acknowledge the cheers. The New York Times framed the moment as Tiafoe sprinting to Michelsen after the final forehand passing shot, wrapping him in a “massive bear hug” as Michelsen wept in his arms.
Semifinal picture
With Tiafoe’s win, the U.S. men’s draw now has an American in the last four, and the next step is a semifinal against either Carlos Alcaraz or Ben Shelton.
“Tiafoe, who lost the first two sets and then trailed 3-0 in the fifth, finally ended the match in 4 hours, 38 minutes.”
The Orange County Register reported that Tiafoe will await the winner of the late match between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and No. 8 Ben Shelton.
In parallel, Rediff said Aryna Sabalenka reached a sixth straight U.S. Open semifinal after edging Linda Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(10-7), while fans awaited an all-American “Battle of the Billionaires” between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro.
Rediff also noted that American hopes remain high with Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen both chasing an end to the country’s 23-year men’s singles drought.