Frances Tiafoe pulled off the biggest comeback of his grand slam career on Tuesday night, beating fellow American Alex Michelsen in five sets at the 2026 US Open. The final score was 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6.
Tiafoe trailed two sets to love and then faced a break down in the fifth set. He fought back to win the final breaker and reach the semifinals in New York for the third time in five years. The No. 11 seed will now face the winner of No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz and No. 8 seed Ben Shelton, with a first grand slam final on the line.
Tiafoe’s Record Comeback
Tiafoe entered the match with a career record of 2-17 at grand slams when trailing 0-2 in sets. At the US Open specifically, he was 0-4 in that position. That made this win his most impressive recovery to date.
The match started badly for Tiafoe. His serve let him down early, and Michelsen broke him in the third game of the first set. Michelsen took that set 7-5 and then won the second, breaking Tiafoe twice to take it 6-3.
Michelsen had entered the last eight as the only man not to have dropped a set all tournament. He was serving sharply and seemed headed for another straight-set win after an early break in the third set.
Michelsen’s Early Control
The 22-year-old Michelsen was in charge for the first two and a half sets. Tiafoe’s first serve rate stayed below 40% through the first three sets, and he struggled to find any momentum.
Tiafoe had a chance to turn the third set midway through. With Michelsen up a break at 4-3, Tiafoe earned triple break point to get back on serve and put pressure on his opponent. But Michelsen ripped off five straight points to hold and push the score to 5-3.
| Player | Sets Won | US Open Semifinals | Career Record When Down 0-2 in Sets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiafoe | 3 | 3 in New York | 2-17 entering the match |
| Michelsen | 2 | 0 | Fell to 0-3 lifetime in five-set matches |
The Third Set Turn
Tiafoe finally got the break he needed in the 10th game of the third set, with Michelsen trying to serve out the match. He let out a big yell to fire himself and the crowd up, and then ran off three straight games to take the set 7-5.
Michelsen’s serve, which had been strong early, started to break down as the finish line came into view. The pressure of the moment seemed to affect the 22-year-old, and Tiafoe took full advantage.
“From the brink, Frances Tiafoe takes the third set 🤯”
The fourth set saw Michelsen’s struggles continue. Tiafoe got his serve back on track and won the first three games, cruising to a 6-3 win to force a decisive fifth set.
The Fifth Set Battle
Just as it seemed Tiafoe might roll, Michelsen came out strong in the final set. He served to start, then broke Tiafoe at love to take an early lead. He held his serve to go up 3-0.
Tiafoe got on the board in the fourth game, and the momentum swung back toward the veteran. He got back on serve by breaking Michelsen in the fifth game.
From there, both men held serve for the next seven games. That sent the match to a 10-point breaker for a spot in the semifinals.
The Breaker Decides It
Tiafoe was the first to strike in the breaker, taking an early lead to go up 4-2 as they changed ends. He continued to apply pressure with big serves and pushed his advantage to 7-4.
Michelsen could not produce a final twist in the marathon match. Tiafoe hit a winner up the line to win the breaker 10-6 and complete the comeback.
After the match, the two Americans embraced at the net. Michelsen could not hold back his tears as Tiafoe offered him words of encouragement.
Michelsen’s Strong Effort
Michelsen came very close to the first grand slam semifinal of his career. He fell to 0-3 lifetime in five-set matches, but he produced his best grand slam performance of his career.
The young American proved he is another threat in the men’s game. He was the only player to reach the last eight without dropping a set, and he pushed the No. 11 seed to the limit in a five-set thriller.
Tiafoe, meanwhile, will try to break through to his first ever grand slam final. He has now reached the semifinals at the US Open three times in five years, and he will face either Alcaraz or Shelton next.
The win marks a significant moment for Tiafoe, who had struggled when falling behind early in grand slam matches. His ability to dig deep and reverse the momentum against Michelsen proved decisive.
Michelsen will leave New York with a new standard for his own game. He showed he can match a veteran over five sets and push a higher seed to the edge of defeat. The result will sting, but the level he reached will give him reason for belief in the years ahead.
The semifinal matchup remains unknown until Alcaraz and Shelton finish their own contest. Tiafoe will watch that result with interest, knowing his next opponent will arrive with fresh legs and a clear game plan. He has earned the rest and the chance to play for a place in the final.
The night belonged to Tiafoe, who refused to accept defeat when the numbers said he should. He found a way to win when his serve was off, when his opponent was sharp, and when the crowd was willing him to find one more shot. That kind of win stays with a player, and Tiafoe will carry it into the semifinals.
Tiafoe’s path to this point has not been simple. He lost the first two sets and then fell behind again in the third before finding a way back. Each time Michelsen seemed ready to close the match, Tiafoe answered with a hold or a break that kept the contest alive.
Michelsen, for his part, came tantalizingly close to the first grand slam semifinal of his career. The 22-year-old had been the only man to enter the quarterfinals without dropping a set, and he showed why with sharp serving and bold play through the early part of the match. His serve, which was dominant early, started to break down with the finish line in sight, and the tension of the moment seemed to be impacting him.
Tiafoe, who came into the match 2-17 in his career at grand slams when trailing 0-2 in sets, dug deep for the most impressive comeback of his career. He produced an awful first serve percentage below 40% in the first three sets, yet still found a way to flip the momentum onto his side when it mattered most.
The crowd in New York gave him energy when he needed it most, and he returned the favor with a performance that will not be forgotten soon. The two players embraced warmly at the net, a moment that captured the respect between them. Michelsen’s tears spoke to how close he came, while Tiafoe’s words offered consolation and recognition of the fight his opponent had given.
Tiafoe now turns his attention to the semifinals, where a first grand slam final awaits. He came back from two sets down and a break in the fifth, and he did it against a player who had not lost a set all tournament. The win marks a significant moment for Tiafoe, who had struggled when falling behind early in grand slam matches. His ability to dig deep and reverse the momentum against Michelsen proved decisive.
Michelsen will leave New York with a new standard for his own game. He showed he can match a veteran over five sets and push a higher seed to the edge of defeat. The result will sting, but the level he reached will give him reason for belief in the years ahead.
The semifinal matchup remains unknown until Alcaraz and Shelton finish their own contest. Tiafoe will watch that result with interest, knowing his next opponent will arrive with fresh legs and a clear game plan. He has earned the rest and the chance to play for a place in the final.
The night belonged to Tiafoe, who refused to accept defeat when the numbers said he should. He found a way to win when his serve was off, when his opponent was sharp, and when the crowd was willing him to find one more shot. That kind of win stays with a player, and Tiafoe will carry it into the semifinals.
Source: cbssports.com