Frances Tiafoe completes epic 5-set comeback to make US Open semifinals

NEW YORK — Frances Tiafoe came storming back from a two-set deficit to defeat unseeded Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) in a thrilling All-American US Open quarterfinal match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The grueling four-hour, 38-minute slugfest came to an end when Tiafoe prevailed in a tiebreak, claiming victory on a gorgeous forehand winner.

​"Everyone was sleeping the first couple hours, I was like, 'What's going on?'" Tiafoe said during an on-court interview. "I was asleep with y'all! Then the energy was incredible. Thank you, guys."

Entering the tournament ranked 46th, Michelsen was attempting to become the second-lowest-ranked men's player to reach the US Open semifinals this decade, after Ben Shelton, who was ranked No. 47 in 2023 when he made his semifinal run. But the world’s biggest tennis arena claimed another victim who failed to hold a two-set lead after American Taylor Fritz couldn’t maintain his lead and lost to Francisco Cerundolo in the third round.

Tiafoe, a US Open semifinalist in 2022 and 2024, had no answers for Michelsen at the start, who used his serve to score easy points. And although his break percentage was less than 50%, he won almost half of his…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/