Tiafoe reaches US Open semis in thrilling fightback

08 Sep 2026, 23:24 · CNA · Join

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 8, 2026 Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. celebrates winning his quarter-final match against Alex Michelsen of the U.S. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Robert Deutsch

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 8, 2026 Alex Michelsen of the U.S. in action during his quarter-final match against Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Geoff Burke

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 8, 2026 Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. celebrates a point in his quarter-final match against Alex Michelsen of the U.S. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 8, 2026 Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. embraces Alex Michelsen of the U.S. at the net after winning their quarter-final match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Geoff Burke

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 8, 2026 Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. in action during his quarter final match against Alex Michelsen of the U.S. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Robert Deutsch

Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST

NEW YORK, Sept 8 : Frances Tiafoe recovered from two sets and a break down to beat U.S. compatriot Alex Michelsen 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6(6) at the U.S. Open on Tuesday, reaching the semi-finals for a third time in a thrilling fightback.

Tiafoe appeared to have lost all the magic of his early campaign before wresting the momentum in the third set and clinching it with a forehand winner. He will next play either eighth seed Ben Shelton or defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Tiafoe thrived in his beloved Louis Armstrong Stadium this week but struggled to hit his stride on the Arthur Ashe court, sending four winners versus his opponent's 15 in the opening set, before handing over the critical break on set point.

Michelsen did some of his best work running up on the net in the second set, where he got the decisive break with a fine backhand strike, and he sent another shot down the line to break in the opening game of the third.

CNA Games

Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time

Buzzword
Create words using the given letters

Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser

Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge

Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less

But Tiafoe dug in his heels, levelling it in the 10th game as Michelsen lost his poise, and the veteran slammed his foot on the gas with another break on set point before winning the first three games of the penultimate set.

The two brought their best tennis to a nerve-searing final set, where the crowd sprang to their feet as Tiafoe sealed the win before embracing an emotional Michelsen after closing out the four-hour and 38-minute contest.

Tiafoe reaches US Open semis in thrilling fightback

Recommended Read

Sign up for our newsletters

Get the CNA app