Alex Michelsen misses US Open semifinals after dramatic five-set match against Frances Tiafoe

09.09.2026, 05:10 Reading time: 2 min.

Frances Tiafoe (l) and Alex Michelsen hug after Tiafoe's victory.Yuki Iwamura/AP/dpa

Alex Michelsen has never made it past the second round at the US Open. In the quarter-finals he is close to advancing, but shows weak nerves - and then great emotions.

Alex Michelsen wept bitterly in the arms of his compatriot Frances Tiafoe. The 22-year-old American was unable to continue his surprising run at the US Open and narrowly missed reaching the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.

Michelsen already served to win against the favorite Tiafoe, but had to admit defeat dramatically 7:5, 6:3, 5:7, 3:6, 6:7 (6:10). He then showed great emotion on the pitch at Arthur Ashe Stadium and was cheered up by the winner. “He's a great guy, the way he comforted me in that moment,” Michelsen said of the hug after the game. "I tried to pull myself together and didn't do it well. He said a lot of nice, personal things."

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Michelsen serves to win – and misses a great chance

With the possible surprise in mind, Michelsen suddenly showed weak nerves in the third set. When the score was 5:4 in the third round, the outsider served two double faults, gave up his serve and lost the set. In the fifth round, Michelsen fought back and was already 3-0 ahead, but still lost in the tie-break. He had previously not made it past the second round at the US Open.

"When I hugged him, I immediately saw that he was crying. I know how much it hurts," Tiafoe said sympathetically. “I told him: You’ll be here a lot more.”

The 28-year-old Tiafoe is in the semi-finals of the US Open for the third time, but is still waiting for his first final at a Grand Slam tournament. The twelfth place in the world rankings now faces the winner of the game between the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton from the USA for a place in the final. "I'll definitely watch it," said the crowd favorite and called out to the fans: "But first I'll enjoy this. Let's go!"