Tiafoe conquers Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 to reach US Open semifinal

Tiafoe roars back from a two-set deficit to eliminate Michelsen in 4 ½ hours

For one, it was elation and relief; for the other, anguish and disbelief. Alex Michelsen, just twenty-two, had achieved a career-high rank of 30 but was not seeded due to his current rank of 46. Although he had made three tour-level finals, he was still in search of his first title.

In three previous outings in New York, he had not progressed past the second round. During this fortnight, he had not dropped a set through four rounds, including wins over two seeded players: Brandon Nakashima #16 and Tomas Etcheverry #27.

Frances Tiafoe, the world #12 and 11th seed, is familiar with the later stages of the US Open. In 2023, he made the quarters, while in 2022 and 2024 he reached the semis. His loss last year in the third round compelled him to retool his fitness and mindset, and it has clearly paid dividends.

In the first round on Armstrong Stadium, he required five sets to subdue countryman Martin Damm Jr. That victory was a microcosm of the past twelve months and the commitment he made to himself and his team. In the following three rounds, he did not drop a set.

Today on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it was a different story. After trading breaks in the first two games, Michelsen held to 15 with two winners, including a 133mph ace up the tee, while Tiafoe faced double break point and dumped serve. Michelsen opened the fifth with an ace up the tee but gave back the break when Tiafoe struck two consecutive backhand volley winners.

In the following game, the 11th seed faced break point and deuce but held to level at three with his first ace. Michelsen remained composed while exuding confidence. He made 5/5 first serves,including an ace up the tee on game point to lead 4-3. Tiafoe, serving with new balls, held to 15 to level.

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Michelsen opened the ninth with his fourth ace and held at love while Tiafoe, serving to stay in the set, donated a double fault and faced break point yet held for 5-5. Michelsen opened the eleventh with his fifth ace and, with two additional winners, held at love for 6-5. Tiafoe, serving to stay in the set and force the breaker gifted four unforced errors to concede it.

In the second set, they remained on serve through three games. Tiafoe faced triple break point after missing five consecutive first serves and dumped serve when Michelsen pummeled a backhand down the line. Although he opened with a 131mph ace up the tee, he gave back the break with two consecutive unforced errors, including a double fault. Tiafoe was issued a time violation warning and gave back the break following a double fault and two outstanding winners from his opponent.

Michelsen opened the seventh with this seventh ace and with his eighth consolidated the break at love to lead 5-2. Tiafoe serving to stay in the set, made 3/6 first serves and held to 30 for 3-5. Michelsen hit two additional aces and secured the set with a terrific crosscourt forehand.

Tiafoe left the court following the conclusion of the second set. With his energy low and his serve missing in action, it appeared he would succumb in straights. He served first in the third and was broken when Michelsen ripped a backhand down the line.

Although he gifted his second double fault and faced deuce, he held to consolidate the break for 2-0. Tiafoe faced two deuce points and two break points but got on the board with a blistering backhand down the line. Michelsen opened the fourth with a netted volley but held to 30 for 3-1.

With the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd eerily quiet, Tiafoe struck a forehand inside-in and held easily to 15, and Michelsen returned the favor holding to 15 for 4-2. Tiafoe, just two games from the locker room, missed three consecutive first serves yet held to 15 with a winning lob and a monster serve out wide.

Michelsen, while up a break, felt pressure with the finish line in sight. He missed three consecutive first serves and faced triple break point but held for 5-3 with two winners, including a 134mph ace up the tee.

Tiafoe, serving to stay in the match, hit two consecutive winners and held to 15 with a colossal serve up the tee. Michelsen stepped to the line four points from the final four. With two consecutive double faults and two mishit backhands, he cracked and dumped serve. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, and with that level of partisan support, one would have surmised he wasn’t playing a fellow American!

Tiafoe, feasting off the crowd’s frenetic energy, struck an ace out wide to consolidate the break for 6-5. Michelsen serving to stay in the set and force the breaker struck his twelfth ace but conceded it when he netted a makeable forehand volley. Michelsen left the court following the conclusion of the set and returned with a positive attitude and better body language.

While Tiafoe struggled to hold in his opening service game, Michelsen, serving with new balls, donated four unforced errors and dropped serve. Tiafoe held at love to consolidate the break for 3-0, and it seemed inevitable this was going the distance.

Michelsen did well to maintain his composure while his team reminded him he was still in the lead. Although he gifted a double fault, he hit two aces to get on the board. Tiafoe faced four deuce, four break points and dumped serve when he whiffed a forehand off the baseline.

Michelsen opened the sixth with a sensational crosscourt forehand but dropped serve with three additional unforced errors. Tiafoe opened with a double fault and faced double break point but held for 5-2 with a 135 mph ace up the tee and a formidable serve out wide. Michelsen, serving to stay in the set, hit an ace out wide and held at love while Tiafoe missed 4/5 first serves yet held to 15 to clinch it 6-3.

While the young American was 0-5 in five setters, he refused to yield. He served first in the decider and held at love with an ace up the tee while Tiafoe, serving with new balls, donated three forehand errors and dropped serve. Michelsen opened the third with a double fault but held to 30 with an incredible inside-in forehand.

Tiafoe opened the fourth with an ace up the tee and, with three consecutive forehand winners, held to 30 for 1-3. Michelsen missed 4/6 first serves, faced double break point and dropped serve when he overcooked a backhand down the line. Tiafoe opened the sixth with a netted forehand but, with two winners including an ace up the tee, consolidated the break to level.

Michelsen opened the seventh with an ace up the tee and though he donated a double fault, held to 15 while Tiafoe struck three consecutive winners and held at love for 4-4. Michelsen hit three consecutive winners, including two more aces, and held to 15 for 5-4. Tiafoe, serving to stay in the match, was two points from defeat but held for 5-5 with three additional aces, the fastest at 137mph.

Michelsen opened the eleventh with two unforced errors but held for 6-5 with a sweet forehand drop volley and a netted return. Tiafoe, serving to stay in the match and force the breaker, opened with an ace up the tee and held easily to 15 to level at six.

Michelsen opened the breaker with his 21st ace, but it would not bring him luck; Tiafoe led 8-6 following a 135mph ace out wide, and with an exceptional forehand down the line did the extraordinary – he came back from the brink to reach the final four at the season’s final slam.