Frances Tiafoe rallies from two sets down to beat Alex Michelsen 7-6 in fifth set at US Open

Two sets down on Arthur Ashe

Frances Tiafoe recovered from a two-set deficit to defeat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) in the US Open quarterfinals on Tuesday. The contest opened inside a subdued Arthur Ashe Stadium following Aryna Sabalenka's three-set win over Linda Noskova. The 28-year-old 11th seed struggled early on the tournament's main court after playing his first four rounds at Louis Armstrong Stadium, where he holds a 10-0 career record. In the opening set, Michelsen produced 15 winners compared to four from Tiafoe, breaking at 6-5 to close out the set after 50 minutes. Michelsen continued to apply pressure in the second set as Tiafoe landed just 35% of his first serves, dropping serve twice to fall behind two sets to love.

Third set turning point

The 22-year-old Michelsen, ranked 46th in the world, entered the quarterfinal having won all 12 sets across his first four tournament matches. The Californian broke Tiafoe in the opening game of the third set and later served for the match with a 5-4 lead. Michelsen opened that service game with two consecutive double faults and failed to put a single first serve in play, allowing Tiafoe to break back and level at 5-5. Tiafoe won the next two games to take the third set 7-5, then extended his run to seven consecutive games to open up a 3-0 lead in the fourth set, which he closed out 6-3.

He gave me some gifts, a couple of double faults there. But then I slowly started to get my rhythm there, snuck out third set and slowly started playing better and better.

Deciding tiebreak and aftermath

Michelsen halted Tiafoe's momentum at the start of the fifth set, breaking early to build a 3-0 advantage. Tiafoe fought back to level the set and forced a deciding 10-point match tiebreak, eventually winning 10-6. The match concluded after 4 hours and 38 minutes, producing the tournament's first comeback from two sets down in a men's quarterfinal since Roger Federer defeated Gaël Monfils in 2014. Tiafoe then crossed over to Michelsen's side of the net to embrace the weeping 22-year-old near the tramlines, improving to 3-0 in their professional head-to-head record.

I was like, man, I know, I've been there. I know how much that hurts.

Semifinal matchup and American drought

The win advances Tiafoe to his third US Open semifinal in five years, following previous runs to the final four in 2022 and 2024. He awaits the winner of Tuesday's late quarterfinal between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton. Alcaraz defeated Tiafoe in a five-set semifinal at Flushing Meadows in 2022 on his way to the championship. American men are attempting to win their first Grand Slam singles title since 2003. Michelsen left Arthur Ashe Stadium with a towel over his head, raising his arm to acknowledge the crowd after completing the first Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career.