By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Photo credit: Jon Buckle/ROLED
NEW YORK—Grand Slam gut-check time arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
A fired-up Frances Tiafoe showed a fierce appetite for the fight, roaring back for the most resounding comeback of his career.
In a pulsating all-American clash, Tiafoe dug out of a two-set deficit and an 0-3 hole in the fifth set edging Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) to scrape into his third US Open semifinal.
This four hour, 38-minute epic saw both men pour themselves into a dramatic duel and ended with the longest post-match embrace of the event at net.
Tiafoe was both conqueror and consoler giving his good friend words of encouragement as a depleted Michelsen wept on his shoulder.
If you saw this marathon match then you can understand the eruption of emotion. Michelsen, who had not dropped a set in the tournament until today, not only built that two-set lead, he served for the match at 5-4 in the third set.
Then the 22-year-old tightened up. Michelsen could not buy a first serve and hit two double faults. That lapse sparked a surge that saw Tiafoe rip through seven straight games seizing the third set and snatching a 3-0 lead in the fourth set.
“I hope he gets tight and plays a super tough game,” Tiafoe said of his mind-set at that point. “Obviously, he gave me some gifts with a couple double faults there. And then I slowly, slowly started getting my rhythm and snuck out that third set.
“I only started playing better and better. He’s a hell of a player. He easily could have won today so shout out Alex Michelsen.”
The man nicknamed Big Foe has done major damage on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where he swept 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvevev in the fourth round.
Flat for two sets, Tiafoe tapped into the Ashe Stadium crowd energy, began striking his first serve with conviction and patrolled the court with passion propelling him to his unlikely comeback.
The 11th-seeded Tiafoe will face either defending-champion Carlos Alcaraz or eighth-seeded buddy Ben Shelton for a spot in Sunday’s final.
Spare a thought for Michelsen, who took down 16th-seeded compatriot Brandon Nakashima in round two and scored a 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4 triumph over 27th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the fourth round.
Three points from triumph serving at 5-3, 15-30 in the third set, Michelsen faltered on serve suffering another gut-wrenching five-set loss.
Five-setters have delivered major misery for Michelsen, who fell to Karen Khachanov in five sets at the Australian Open, bowed to Rafael Jodar in five sets in the Roland Garros third round and succumbed to 159th-ranked Jacob Fearnley in a five-set first-round Wimbledon loss.
It was a captivating comeback from Tiafoe, who improved to 12-17 lifetime in five-setters, including a 5-5 mark going the distance in New York.
“Everyone was sleeping the first couple of hours, I was like what’s going on?” Tiafoe told Sam Querrey afterward. “I was asleep with you all. As it went along the energy was incredible as it always is. Two Americans and you guys were for me and I really appreciate that.”
No. 12 Tiafoe is typically one of the most emotionally exuberant players in the game.
Today, Tiafoe looked flat at the start, his first-serve fled control and Michelsen was torching returns off the Cincinnati finalist’s second serve.
A frustrated Tiafoe incurred a code violation warning for ball abuse after belting a stray ball into the suites as Michelsen served for a two-set lead. Tiafoe saved two set points, including carving out a superb backhand drop volley.
On his third set point, Michelsen stretched Tiafoe into his forehand corner with the deep drive then crunched a short-angled crosscourt forehand for a firm two-set lead after 94 minutes.
It was Michelsen’s 14th consecutive set in this tournament. Tiafoe served a horrific 35 percent in the set while Michelsen pounded six more winners (10 to 4) in the set.
The ATP hard-court wins leader this season (25), Tiafoe desperately needed to make a strong stand at the start of the third set.
Across the net, Michelsen was reading his compatriot’s serve and ripping replies. ee
Measuring his two-hander, Michelsen banged a backhand strike down the line scoring his sixth service break to open the third set. Michelsen screamed “come on!” and coach Kristof Vliegen leaped from his seat applauding his charge.
Serving for his maiden major semifinal, Michelsen froze on serve. Michelsen could not land a first serve and spit up two double faults as Tiafoe broke back at 15 to level the third set, 5-All.
A nervy Michelsen pasted a backhand into net to face set point serving at 5-6.
The lanky Michelsen went all in lashing an ace right off the sideline to erase set point. Tiafoe rolled a running forehand pass down the line for a second set point.
Attacking net, Michelsen slapped a smash off the tape that went in but was handcuffed by a low volley he put into net as Tiafoe broke to force a fourth set on a four-game run.
Though Michelsen tried to change it up by playing the serve-and-volley, Tiafoe had found his groove and broke again, snatching his sixth straight game and looking like a completely different player than the guy who could barely land a first serve in the opening set.
Across the net, Tiafoe continued a tremendous turnaround, stamping his first love hold of the match for his seventh straight game and a 3-0 lead.
A rattled Michelsen stood in the corner of the court and vented to his coach trying to stall a downward spiral.
“I know what you’re feeling, You’re still up two sets to one—you’re still in a good spot,” coach Vliegen told Michelsen.
That seemed to settle the 22-year-old Southern Californian, who cranked an ace to finally snap his slide holding for 1-3.
Tiafoe fended off three break points in the fifth game only to see Michelsen attack and knock off a high volley for a fourth break point. Michelsen waved his arms exhorting Ashe Stadium fans to make some noise. This time Tiafoe rushed net and Michelsen had a good look at a forehand pass only to sail it long.
The game escalated to the 10-minute mark when Michelsen turned his hips and shoulders into a crosscourt forehand breaking back with a loud “come on!” for 2-3.
Tempting his compatriot with a shorter ball, Tiafoe drew a netted forehand to break right back and extend his lead to 4-2.
A fired-up Tiafoe fought off seven of eight break points in the set to seize the fourth set and force a decider after three hours, 33 minutes.
A misjudgement cost Tiafoe the opening break of the fifth set. Tiafoe crashed net and let a Michelsen topspin forehand go by only to see the shot settle inside the court for triple break point.
Driven back by a deep return, Tiafoe netted a forehand as Michelsen tore through eight points in a row, breaking for a 2-0 lead in the decider.
Michelsen rallied from Love-30 down, firing a forehand winner down the line to confirm the break for 3-0.
The man sporting the Big Foe necklace earned double break point in the fifth game. Hovering right around the baseline, Tiafoe repelled everything Michelsen threw at him breaking back for 2-3.
Serving at 4-5, 30-All, Tiafoe was two points from defeat when he slid a 116 mph ace wide. Michelsen hit a big backhand return to draw to deuce. This time, Tiafoe blasted a 137 mph ace down the middle followed by his third ace of the game to level the decider at 5-All.
Michelsen flatlined a drive into net to fall behind Love-30 in the 11th game, but came back dabbing a drop volley winner holding for 6-5. Tiafoe slammed down a strong hold at 15 to force the 10-point final-set tiebreaker.
Though Michelsen opened the tiebreaker with an ace, Tiafoe tuned into the muse and took charge.
A net-cord shot sat up and Tiafoe clubbed a forehand winner down the line for 3-2.
Tremendous serving at crunch time carried Tiafoe, who torched a 134 mph serve winner for 6-4.
A fearless Tiafoe rocketed a 135 mph ace out wide—his 10th ace—for 8-6. Seeing his dream dissolve, Michelsen missed a backhand return badly as Tiafoe gained match points.
Tiafoe slammed a forehand pass down the line, tossed his Yonex racquet aside and thrust his arms toward the sky completing his greatest career comeback for a third US Open semifinal.
Draping a blue towel over his head as he walked off court, Michelsen, understandably, looked absolutely gutted.
After consoling his friend, Tiafoe pounded his palm over his heart then left the Ashe Stadium faithful with one fiery proclamation: “Let’s Go!”