Tiafoe from two sets down, then 0-3 in the fifth, then a semi-final
Tiafoe 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) Michelsen. Two sets down. 0-3 in the fifth. A hug at the net.
| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frances Tiafoe | 5 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| Alex Michelsen | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
Tiafoe 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) Michelsen
Why this one matters: an all-American quarter-final on Ashe was supposed to end in the third set. It ended in a 10-point tie-break, with Alex Michelsen crying on Frances Tiafoe's shoulder.
ATP logged the score as 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6), 4 hours 38 minutes. Michelsen had not dropped a set in the tournament. He served for the match at 5-4 in the third and double-faulted twice. Tiafoe, the eleventh seed, took that set 7-5, the fourth 6-3, then trailed 0-3 in the fifth. The match tie-break went 10-6 on a Tiafoe forehand down the line.
BBC, ATP and USOpen.org agree on the same numbers. Tiafoe reaches a third US Open semi-final. Michelsen finished with more total points, 173-170, and still lost. The next sentence was Shelton.
The stakes
A first American men's semi-final pairing at this Open. One of them had already beaten Alcaraz.
The rivalry angle
Friends, same country, one court, a 23-year drought still unsolved.
Players who could decide it
Eleventh seed. Two sets down. Third US Open semi-final.
First Slam quarter-final. Led two sets, 5-4 in the third, 3-0 in the fifth.
Did you know?
- !Michelsen served for the match at 5-4 in the third.
- !Tiafoe trailed 0-3 in the fifth.
- !ATP: 4 hours 38 minutes, 40 break points, both broke eight times.
Sources
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