Full Breakdown
Tiafoe’s Epic Comeback Sends Him to Third US Open Semifinal
9/9/2026, 10:05:26 AM
The Quarterfinal Turnaround
In the men’s quarterfinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium, No. 11-seed Frances Tiafoe rallied from two sets down to defeat unseeded Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6). The match lasted four hours and 38 minutes. After losing the first two sets and trailing 5-3 in the third, Tiafoe broke back, took the third set 7-5, then captured the fourth 6-3 and survived a deciding ten-point tiebreak. The victory secured Tiafoe’s third US Open semifinal in five years.
Background & Context
Tiafoe entered the tournament as a leading American, having reached the US Open semifinals in 2022 and 2024. The 28-year-old had previously come back from two-set deficits twice in his career, both at majors. Michelsen, a 22-year-old from Laguna Hills, California, was playing his first Grand Slam quarterfinal. He had not dropped a set in his first four rounds, including wins over the 16th seed Brandon Nakashima and 27th seed Tomas Martín Etcheverry, and was the first man born in 2004 to reach a major quarterfinal.
Data & Statistics
- Scoreline: 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6)
- Match duration: 4 hours 38 minutes
- Seeds/rankings: Tiafoe – No. 11 seed; Michelsen – world No. 46, unseeded
- Aces: Tiafoe served seven aces in the fifth set; Michelsen recorded 21 aces overall.
- Unforced errors: Michelsen committed 61 in the match; Tiafoe’s first-serve percentage was below 40 % in the opening three sets but improved after the third.
- Historical note: Tiafoe became the fifth player in the Open era to win a US Open men’s quarterfinal after trailing by two sets, joining Roger Federer (2014) and Andre Agassi (2005).
Official Statements & Responses
Tiafoe described the early part of the match as “slow and flat,” noting that the crowd seemed disengaged before the momentum shifted. He credited the crowd’s renewed energy for helping him find rhythm and emphasized that Michelsen “could have won today.” After the final point, Tiafoe jogged to the net and embraced Michelsen, telling reporters he understood the emotional weight of the loss because he had experienced similar five-set defeats. Both players highlighted the personal bond they share on tour and expressed optimism that Michelsen will return to future majors.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He's a hell of a player and he easily could have won today. Shout out to Alex Michelsen,” — Frances Tiafoe
- “He’s a hell of a player, man,” — Frances Tiafoe
- “I was trying to keep it together and I didn't do a good job of that,” — American Alex Michelsen
- “I don't think anyone else could have made me cry in that moment, to be honest,” — American Alex Michelsen
- “Everyone was asleep in the first couple hours, and I was like, ‘What’s going on?’” — Frances Tiafoe
What’s Next
Tiafoe’s semifinal opponent will be the winner of the late quarterfinal between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (No. 2 seed) and No. 8 seed Ben Shelton. A victory would give Tiafoe his first Grand Slam final appearance and keep alive the prospect of an American man winning a major for the first time since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open title.
