‘I know how much it hurts, I’ve been there twice’ Tiafoe after beaing Michelsen

Frances Tiafoe (left) consoles Alex Michelsen after the game. Pic/AFP

[popcorn number="Three" desc="No. of US Open semi-final appearances for Frances Tiafoe (2022, 2024, and 2026); the most among American men this century, alongside Andre Agassi" class="Default"]

After Frances Tiafoe completed an epic comeback from two sets down to secure a thrilling 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (6) win over Alex Michelsen in the quarter-finals, the No. 11 seed cut short his celebration to console the 22-year-old Michelsen.

Michelsen served for the match at 5-4 in the third set and also led 3-0 in the fifth, coming agonisingly close to victory in his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

After the win, Tiafoe jogged to the net to embrace Michelsen. The Americans shared a long embrace at the net, with an emotional Michelsen crying into his good friend's shoulder at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"As soon as I hugged him, I saw he was crying already," Tiafoe said after the match. "I was like, man, I know, I've been there. I've been there twice, to be fair, lost in five. Obviously I wasn't serving for the match to make the semis, but he's young, and he hasn't been there."

"I know how much that hurts. I know how much he wanted it today. It's something that you dream about. I just told him, ‘Bro, I know you're going to be here so many more times, and I'm going to be in a rocking chair when you do'," said Tiafoe.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever