Key Takeaways
- Alex Michelsen revealed that words from Frances Tiafoe and pure exhaustion triggered his tears at the net: “The match was very emotionally draining and it’s just Frances. I don’t think anyone else could have made me cry in that moment.”
- Addressing his missed chance while serving for the match in the third set, Michelsen acknowledged the pressure: “The nerves did play a big part, the first time being in a quarter final.”
- Frances Tiafoe advanced to the semifinals following the five-set comeback, setting up a meeting with Ben Shelton, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz.
Heartbreak inside Arthur Ashe Stadium
Alex Michelsen experienced an agonizing conclusion to his US Open run on Tuesday evening, falling just short of reaching his maiden major semifinal against Frances Tiafoe. The 22-year-old American was in command of the quarterfinal clash, holding a two-set lead and serving for the match in the third set before his compatriot mounted an extraordinary recovery to secure a 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 victory.
Overwhelmed by the moment after the final point, Michelsen broke down at the net, burying his face into Tiafoe’s shoulder. Facing the media shortly after leaving Arthur Ashe Stadium, Michelsen reflected candidly on the outpouring of emotion.
“I think it was a combination of a lot of things,” Michelsen explained during his post-match press conference. “The match was very emotionally draining and it’s just Frances. I don’t think anyone else could have made me cry in that moment. Maybe Learner [Tien].”
He credited the close connection between the two Americans for amplifying the raw feelings at the net. “But Frances is such a good guy and he said a lot of personal things which kind of got to me,” Michelsen added. “It took me a few minutes [to recover] but it’s normal after a match like that and emotions like that, it takes a few minutes to recover, but I am here talking to you now so I did okay.”
Learning from high-stakes pressure
The turning point arrived late in the third set when Michelsen stood one game away from victory. Serving under immense pressure, consecutive double faults opened the door for Tiafoe to break back and seize control of the momentum.
“It’s something I am going to learn from, for sure,” Michelsen admitted. “I am not the first guy that has done that and I’m not going to be the last guy that has done it in a quarter final.”
Despite the gut-wrenching outcome, the youngster was quick to contextualize the experience compared to his previous deep run at a Grand Slam event.
“The nerves did play a big part, the first time being in a quarter final,” Michelsen noted. “My first time in a fourth round in Australia I played a horrendous match, so first time in the next step of a major, I played a much, much better match. I’m really proud of myself for that.”
Looking ahead, he remained determined to use the defeat as fuel for the future: “Next time I’m in this situation, I’m going to learn, I’m going to do things the right way.”
Alex Michelsen’s run in New York
Michelsen enjoyed a superb campaign throughout the tournament, recording straight-sets victories in his first four rounds before the five-set battle with Tiafoe.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | Federico Cina | 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 |
| R2 | Brandon Nakashima | 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 |
| R3 | Daniel Merida | 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| R4 | Tomas Martin Etcheverry | 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| QF | Frances Tiafoe | 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, 6-7 |
All-American semifinal awaits Tiafoe
Tiafoe’s dramatic comeback earns him a spot in the semifinals against fellow American Ben Shelton. The American number one advanced after outlasting tournament favourite Carlos Alcaraz 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6.
Shelton holds a 3-1 lead in their head-to-head encounters on the ATP Tour, though Tiafoe claimed their prior clash in Flushing Meadows when he prevailed in five sets in the third round of the 2024 US Open.
| Tournament | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 US Open | Ben Shelton | 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 |
| 2024 Houston Open | Ben Shelton | 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 2024 US Open | Frances Tiafoe | 4-6, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2025 Washington Open | Ben Shelton | 7-6, 6-4 |
Alex Michelsen in 2026
Ranked world no.46, Michelsen played his last match on the 8th of September when he capitulated to world no.12 Francis Tiafoe 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6(6) in the quarter of the U.S. Open (draw).
Until now, during this year Michelsen has achieved a composed 35-20 record. Alex has won 1 title in the Bloomfield Hills Challenger.
