Tiafoe Survives Five-Set All-American Thriller, Edges Michelsen At US Open

Frances Tiafoe
Frances Tiafoe (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, September 9, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Alex Michelsen, the least well-known of the three American men playing on Day 10 of the US Open Tuesday, entered his first Grand Slam quarterfinal owning a 0-5 career win-loss record in last-eight tussles above the ATP 250 level. 

The 46th-ranked Michelsen also came into his matinee meeting against 11th-seeded Frances Tiafoe bidding to become the first American man to reach the US Open semifinals without losing a set since Jim Courier in 1991 and fourth one overall – and the second-lowest ranked US Open men’s semifinalist in this decade after No. 47 Ben Shelton in 2023. More than four hours after the match began, Michelsen almost pulled off the feat.

As it happened, though, Michelsen was unable to close out Tiafoe in straight sets when he had the chance. Ultimately, he lost the quarterfinal match against Tiafoe in five sets, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6), in four hours and 39 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Courier was present to watch Michelsen as he was commentating on the match for the US Open World Feed broadcast – and spoke glowingly of the 21-year-old Michelsen’s often-sharp and fearless play against Tiafoe.

As Michelsen learned, in tennis you can’t wait for the clock to run out to hold your lead. After all, there’s no clock in tennis like there is in basketball or football. He unsuccessfully served for the match at 5-4 in the third set, then was unable to capitalize on his lead multiple times over the course of the final two sets.

What started out looking like a 28th triumph for Michelsen – after putting the building blocks in place for a stunning upset – turned instead into a very painful and emotional 18th defeat. As for Tiafoe, he achieved his 42nd triumph of the season – including his 26th on hard courts – after rallying from two-sets-to-none down. His record in five-set matches at majors is now 12-17.

 

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Tiafoe withstood 21 aces and 55 winners from Michelsen by hitting 50 winners of his own – including 10 aces. Tiafoe won 67 percent (62 of 93) of his first-serve points and converted eight of 17 break points. His serve was broken by Michelsen eight times in 23 opportunities and he committed 43 unforced errors. Michelsen outpointed Tiafoe 173-170.

Soon, after Tiafoe won the quarterfinal, he hurried to the net to comfort a visibly-shaken Michelsen, who was denied his first five-set victory in a major. Their emotional embrace, in which Michelsen could been seen crying on Tiafoe’s shoulder as the two Americans hugged, was a beautiful moment of sportsmanship.

Now, Tiafoe, who managed both his mental and physical energy throughout, is through to his third career US Open semifinal in the last five editions after beating Michelsen for the third time in three career meetings.

By reaching the semifinals, Tiafoe has climbed four places to No. 8 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, meaning he will return to the ATP Top 10 for the first time since September 2023, when the post-US Open PIF ATP Rankings are released next Monday.

During his on-court interview, Tiafoe was asked to describe his mindset, when he faced elimination at 4-5 down in the third set, trailing two sets to love.

“I hope he gets tight,” Tiafoe said, smiling. “Obviously, he gave me some gifts, a couple of double faults there. But then I slowly, slowly started to get my rhythm there; snuck out the third set and slowly started playing better and better. But he is a hell of a player. He easily should have won today, so shout out Alex Michelsen.”

Then, Tiafoe was asked by ESPN’s Sam Querrey how important was it to him to have the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd behind him.

“Everyone was sleeping the first couple of hours,” Tiafoe quipped. “I was wondering ‘what’s going on?’ I was asleep with you all. Seriously, the energy was incredible as it always is. Thank you! You were rooting for me and I really appreciate that.”

After previously reaching the US Open last four stage in 2022 and 2024, Tiafoe has become the first three-time American semifinalist this century since Andre Agassi (2002-03, 2005). 

On Friday, the 28-year-old Tiafoe from Hyattsville, Md., will face either defending champion and World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain or fellow American Ben Shelton, the eighth seed, who played late Tuesday night on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Sabalenka prevails in tense battle with Noskova

Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the limit by reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. However, the two-time defending US Open titlist stood tall and firm when it mattered most during the most critical of moments of their Tuesday afternoon quarterfinal on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The World No. 1 from Belarus pulled off a stunning 97 mile-per-hour second-serve ace on match point to defeat Czech star Noskova, 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7), in two hours and 22 minutes – including 54 minutes to decide the final set, in which Sabalenka rallied from a break down at 2-4 – to advance to her sixth-straight US Open semifinal round. It’s the longest semifinal streak since Serena Williams (2011-16).

It marked the 10th-consecutive tie-break that Sabalenka has won at the US Open – no doubt a confidence booster as she continues to fight to hold on to her No. 1 ranking – and it showed the 28-year-old Sabalenka came to fight. With her latest triumph, Sabalenka has won 18 consecutive matches at the US Open. She’s just two wins shy of achieving a US Open three-peat, which was last accomplished by Serena Williams in 2014-16.

“What a battle, what an incredible player she is,” Sabalenka said of Noskova, 21, during her on-court interview. “I’m speechless right now because I was pushing myself to the limit in this match, especially in the third set.

“I honestly thought that’s it; the match is over. I think that’s what helped me to feel loose and go after my shots. I’m super happy to get this win. It was a tough match, a tough battle.”

By the conclusion, Sabalenka accumulated 42 winners – including 12 aces – and won 77 percent (48 of 62) of her first-serve points. She converted two of nine break points and outpointed Noskova 113-105. The loss ended an 11-match winning streak at majors for Noskova.

It all added up to the first Top-10 win for Sabalenka since defeating Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final last March and it was her sixth overall this season. It was also her first three-set victory at a Grand Slam in 2026, after losing in the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina.

“These kinds of matches, these kinds of tight tiebreaks and these matches under such high pressure definitely boost my confidence and my energy and my motivation,” said Sabalenka, after garnering her 45th victory of the season.

“I’m super glad that somehow, I made that ace [on match point] — it was a very important point. It just shows that I’m happy to fight and I’m very happy to see that.”

In the semifinal round, Sabalenka will face either World No. 3 and third seed Jessica Pegula or No. 26 seed Emma Navarro, who met in the first all-American quarterfinal matchup at the US Open since the Williams sisters faced each other in 2015 Wednesday evening on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The Pegula-Navarro start was delayed by 75 minutes due to the length of the Frances Tiafoe–Alex Michelsen men’s quarterfinal that extended past  the usual 7 p.m. night session starting time.

Sabalenka has winning records against both Pegula (9-4) and Navarro (2-1). 

Zverev knows all about burning the midnight oil

When No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev defeated No. 21 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3) to reach the US Open quarterfinals on Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday evening, the surprise was that the World No. 2 from Germany got the job done before midnight. 

“I don’t know what to do with myself,” Zverev chuckled during his on-court interview. “I might go out to a practice court. I might go out to a bar … that was a joke!”

 

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While Zverev will be a heavy favorite to continue his quest to win a second major this year after garnering the French Open top prize, when he next faces Dutch No. 2 Botic van de Zandschulp on Wednesday, he’s been part of some very late finishes at this year’s US Open.

Twice this New York City fortnight, Zverev played well into the wee hours to win his first two matches, over Lorenzo Sonego of Italy (1:55 a.m.) and Quentin Halys of France (2:15 a.m.) Both matches exceeded four hours in duration. His match against Darderi, which was completed in a brisk two hours and 31 minutes, finished at 11:48 p.m. Tuesday night.

Around the US Open

• In men’s doubles, the top two seeded teams remained alive and advanced to the quarterfinal round on Tuesday. 

No. 1 seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain defeated No. 16 seeds Francisco Cabral of Portugal and JJ Tracy of the United States, 6-4, 6-4. Meanwhile defending champions and this year’s No. 2 seeds Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina advanced over Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni, 6-3, 6-3.

Also, three-time (2021-23) US Open champions Rajeev Ram of the United States and Joe Salisbury of Great Britain ended the run of American wild cards Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin, who play collegiately at Ohio State University. Ram and Salisbury won 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4.

• In women’s quarterfinal doubles, the top two seeded teams advanced to the semifinal round on Tuesday.

First, No. 1 seeds Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of the United States defeated No. 6 seeds Cristina Bucsa of Spain and Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States, 6-4, 6-2. Then, No. 2 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Luisa Stefani of Brazil defeated seventh-seeded Chinese duo Jiang Xinyu and Zhang Shuai, 6-3, 6-4.

Tuesday’s US Open results

Wednesday’s US Open order of play

By the numbers

While Alexander Zverev leads the ATP Tour this season in total wins with 50, Frances Tiafoe has accumulated the most hard-court wins this season on tour with 26. He has the third-most total wins on the ATP Tour this season with 42.

“Quotable …”

• “I have no clue, actually. It wasn’t going my way in the beginning. I think it was a sloppy match a little bit, but he started to play well at some point.

“For me, I was looking for my form. Haven’t found it yet, but hopefully in a couple days I find it. It’s been a crazy comeback. Five hours, [almost] 15 minutes. Still standing, so that’s a good thing.”

– Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, during his on-court interview, following his come-from-behind five-set victory over Arthur Gea of France to advance to the quarterfinal round against top seed Alexander Zverev.

• “It was a really crazy match. We played for the first time against each other. I knew what to expect: One extra ball coming back, one extra ball. So many close rallies. He loves to play that defense outside the court, that’s why it makes it extremely tough – this match – because you have to stay always in the match with great intensity, hitting, hitting, pushing. In the end, I’m super happy that I could pull through.” 

– Karen Khachanov of Russia, during his on-court interview, following his comeback five-set victory over No. 14 seed Learner Tien of the United States to advance to the quarterfinal round against No. 28 seed Alexander Blockx of Belgium.

 

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