Frances Tiafoe could have celebrated with his team for another ten seconds, or soaked up the adoration of the Arthur Ashe faithful, but instead, just moments after his thrilling 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) victory over Alex Michelsen, he made a beeline to the net to show some respect for his opponent.
Of course, having been through his share of tough losses, one of which came on the very court in which he stood (the 2024 US Open semifinal loss to Taylor Fritz), Tiafoe could relate.
He consoled Michelsen, telling him that he’d have more chances, that he’d be back.
“I wasn’t saying much. I was trying to keep it together, and I didn’t do a good job of that. He was saying a lot of nice personal things,” Michelsen recalled, hours after the loss inside the main interview room in the bowels of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
What did Tiafoe say?
“You’ll be there,” Michelsen said. “When I’m older, you’re going to be here, and we’re going to play it again in this type of circumstance. All that good stuff.
“He’s a great guy for consoling me in that moment.”
The moment is a glimpse into the heart of Tiafoe, into the way he can both hunt his rivals and in the same breath be such a supportive mentor. Tiafoe let Michelsen know that this isn’t his last chance, that he must pick himself up and try again.
Michelsen’s spirits were already starting to lift, even if he’d need a few more days or weeks to digest a difficult moment that will most certainly leave a bit of scar tissue on the 22-year-old.
“I’m not feeling wonderful,” he admitted. “I think it was a combination of a lot of things. The match was very emotionally draining. Then, you know, it’s just Frances. I don’t think anyone else could have made me cry in that moment, to be honest. Maybe Learner [Tien]. But Frances, he’s such a good guy, and he said a lot of personal things and just kind of got to me.”
Michelsen, who had not dropped a set through his first four rounds, served for the victory at 5-4 in the third set, and was up again in the fifth, leading 3-0.
But Tuesday was Tiafoe’s day in Ashe – the American improved to 29-10 lifetime at the US Open and reached his third semifinal in Flushing Meadows. As Michelsen said in the leadup to their quarterfinal and its aftermath: Tiafoe plays like a Top 5 player at the Open. He learned that the hard way on Tuesday in what is surely the most difficult loss of his career.
“It takes a little bit of time to get back down to earth, but, you know, I’m here talking to you now, so I did okay,” he said.
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