Tiafoe Rallies From Two Sets Down to Reach US Open Semis

American tennis player Frances Tiafoe staged a five-set comeback against compatriot Alex Michelsen to advance to the US Open semifinals on Tuesday. Trailing by two sets and facing elimination with Michelsen serving for the match in the third set, Tiafoe rallied to secure a 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The win moves the 28-year-old into his third career US Open semifinal and leaves him one win away from reaching his first Grand Slam final.

Turnaround in Arthur Ashe Stadium

The quarterfinal match lasted four hours and 39 minutes. Michelsen, 22, was competing in his first major quarterfinal and had not dropped a set throughout the tournament before the third set on Tuesday. He established a two-set lead as Tiafoe started sluggishly in front of a subdued crowd.

Michelsen had the opportunity to serve out the victory in the third set, but consecutive double faults allowed Tiafoe to break back. Tiafoe proceeded to win three consecutive games to take the third set 7-5, then built a 3-0 lead in the fourth set as momentum shifted in his favor.

“I feel like I just handed it to him,” Michelsen said after the match, noting that Tiafoe elevated his level of play following the break.

Historical Milestone and Path to Semifinals

With the victory, Tiafoe became only the second man in history to win a Grand Slam quarterfinal in a deciding-set tiebreak after losing the first two sets. He joins Andre Agassi, who accomplished the feat at the 2005 US Open.

Tiafoe played his first four matches of the 2026 tournament at Louis Armstrong Stadium before returning to Arthur Ashe Stadium for the quarterfinals. His tournament campaign included recovering from a 2-1 set deficit against world No. 90 Martin Damm Jr. in the opening round, as well as a straight-sets victory over 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round.

Reflecting on his progression, Tiafoe stated that making the semifinals was not his final goal for the tournament. “I just want to keep going,” Tiafoe said, adding that he maintains higher ambitions for himself as the event continues.

Background

The US Open is the final Grand Slam tournament of the annual tennis calendar, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. Tiafoe previously reached the US Open semifinals in 2022, highlighted by a fourth-round victory over Rafael Nadal, and returned to the semifinal stage in 2024. Before entering the 2026 tournament, Tiafoe reached the final of the warmup tournament in Cincinnati.