'Man, I know. I’ve been there... I know how much that hurts': Frances Tiafoe opens up on emotional hug with Alex Michelsen after their grueling 5-set US Open quarterfinal thriller; Check viral video

Frances Tiafoe showed the emotional side of tennis after his grueling five-set US Open quarterfinal battle with friend Alex Michelsen. Following the intense match, the two players shared a heartfelt hug at the net, with Tiafoe offering words of comfort to the young American. Reflecting on the moment, Tiafoe said, "Man, I know. I’ve been there... I know how much that hurts." The exchange highlighted the strong friendship and mutual respect between the two competitors. While Tiafoe advanced after an exhausting battle, he understood the disappointment Michelsen felt, having experienced the heartbreak of falling short on tennis’s biggest stages himself.


Tiafoe produced another remarkable comeback at the US Open, overcoming Michelsen in a five-set thriller to reach his third semifinal at Flushing Meadows. The 11th-seeded American rallied from two sets down and later fought back from a 3-0 deficit in the deciding set before winning 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) after 4 hours, 38 minutes.



Michelsen had looked in control for much of the match, but Tiafoe refused to surrender. After sealing the victory in the match tiebreak, Tiafoe crossed the net and embraced his 22-year-old opponent, who broke down in tears.


Tiafoe's victory sends him into his third US Open semifinal, following his runs to the final four in 2022 and 2024. Tiafoe fell to Carlos Alcaraz in 2022, when the Spaniard captured the first of his seven Grand Slam titles. Two years later, Tiafoe was beaten by fellow American Taylor Fritz, as the United States came agonizingly close to ending its long men’s Grand Slam drought, which dates back to Andy Roddick’s US Open triumph in 2003.


With the victory, Tiafoe became just the second American man after Andre Agassi to reach three US Open semifinals this century. He will also return to the ATP top 10 for the first time in three years when the next rankings are released.

Michelsen, meanwhile, remains winless in six career matches that have gone to a fifth set.