Frances Tiafoe came from two sets and a break down to beat fellow American Alex Michelsen in a thrilling comeback to reach the US Open semi-finals.
Eleventh seed Tiafoe was outplayed by world number 46 Michelsen for the first half of the match, but battled back from 5-3 down in the third set – with his opponent serving for the match – to ignite a remarkable turnaround.
In a final set of multiple breaks and swings of momentum, Tiafoe triumphed in the 10-point tie-break to win 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6 (10-6).
Victory means 28-year-old Tiafoe reaches his third US Open semi-final in five years, where he will play defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or American eighth seed Ben Shelton.
Michelsen, 22, who was competing in his first Grand Slam quarter-final, was in tears as the pair embraced after a match which lasted four hours and 38 minutes.
“In the end I slowly started to get my rhythm. Snuck out that third set and got better and better,” said Tiafoe.
“He’s a hell of a player and he easily could have won today. Shout out to Alex Michelsen.
“Everyone was asleep in the first couple of hours, I was too. As it went along the energy was incredible as it is always. You guys are rooting for me and I appreciate that.”
