CORRECTION US Open Tennis
Frances Tiafoe, left, of the United States, and Alex Michelsen, of the United States, embrace after Tiafoe won their match in the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in New York. CORRECTION: Corrects Tiafoe to left, not right.
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Frances Tiafoe knew Alex Michelsen needed a shoulder to cry on. So after handing his fellow American a crushing defeat in the U.S. Open quarterfinals Tuesday, Tiafoe held Michelsen in a long embrace while the 22-year-old sobbed into his shoulder. Michelsen was playing in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal and was just a few points from winning it after winning the first two sets. The No. 11-seeded Tiafoe came back to win 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6), starting his turnaround after Michelsen failed to serve out the match with a 5-4 lead in the third set.
