Frances Tiafoe advanced to the US Open semi-finals, preserving his chance to reach a first US Open final after a dramatic five-set victory over fellow American Alex Michelsen. Tiafoe trailed by two sets and was a break down in the third before recovering to win 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6 (10-6), a match that lasted four hours and 38 minutes.
Michelsen, 22 and ranked world number 46, controlled the opening stages and entered the quarter-final without dropping a set, but his hold on the match frayed late in the third. Serving for the match at 5-4 in that set, he committed two double faults, which allowed Tiafoe to break back and take the third. The momentum shifted decisively; Tiafoe surged through the start of the fourth to force a deciding fifth set that swung repeatedly, with breaks on both sides and a charged Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd following every exchange.
The match reached a 10-point tie-break, where Tiafoe seized control and closed it out 10-6. At the net the pair embraced, Michelsen visibly emotional after his run ended in his first Grand Slam quarter-final. The comeback marks Tiafoe's fourth five-set victory at a major in 2026, a statistic that highlights his resilience in extended matches this season.
Afterward Tiafoe reflected on his turnaround, saying, "In the end I slowly started to get my rhythm. Snuck out that third set and got better and better." He also praised his opponent, "He's a hell of a player and he easily could have won today. Shout out to Alex Michelsen." On the crowd he added, "Everyone was asleep in the first couple of hours, I was too. As it went along the energy was incredible as it is always. You guys are rooting for me and I appreciate that."
Tiafoe, 28, now has his third semi-final at Flushing Meadows in five years. He will face either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or American eighth seed Ben Shelton in the semi-finals, with a place in a first US Open final still on the line after previous semi-final exits to Alcaraz in 2022 and Taylor Fritz in 2024. Michelsen departs with a significant breakthrough, while Tiafoe advances with fresh momentum and reinforced home support late in the tournament.
