Alex Michelsen left the US Open carrying the weight of a defeat that felt as painful as it was dramatic, but the closing moments of his match with Frances Tiafoe offered a reminder of the sport’s human side.

The 22-year-old was two points from a maiden Grand Slam semi-final when he served at 7-5, 6-3, 5-4. Instead, Tiafoe, another American, refused to go away. He broke in the 10th game, extended the contest by taking the third set, then seized the fourth before completing a remarkable recovery in the decider.

Michelsen also led 3-0 in the final set, yet that advantage disappeared as Tiafoe pulled level in game five and eventually won the tie-break to close out a 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) victory after four hours and 39 minutes.

For all the tension and momentum shifts, the most memorable scene came after the final point. Once the chair umpire called game, set and match Mr Tiafoe, the two men met at the net and embraced. Michelsen then broke down in tears while Tiafoe held him tightly.

Reflecting on that exchange, Michelsen said: “I wasn’t saying much, I was trying to keep it together and I didn’t do a good job of that.

“But he was saying a lot of, you know, nice personal things. You know, you’ll be there, you know, when I’m older, you’re going to be here and, you know, we’re going to play again this type of circumstance and all that good stuff.

“You know, he’s a great guy for consoling me in that moment.”

Even with the disappointment, Michelsen tried to frame the result as a step forward. “It’s a tough match, but you know, I fought as hard as I could and it just didn’t go my way today,” he said. “It got a little tight at 5-4 in the third, but at the end of the day, made my first quarter-final of a Slam, lost to, you know, like I said in my other press conference, someone that is probably a top-five player here in Francis. So trying to keep my head high and onto the next one.”

Tiafoe, meanwhile, reached his third US Open semi-final and was pleased to advance, but kept his focus on what still remains ahead. “I’m pumped about it,” the 11th seed said. “I’m super excited about it, but I don’t feel like it’s, of course, I mean, this is a crazy match, so of course I’m extremely pumped up, but … I just want to continue. I just want to keep going.

“I have higher hopes for myself. So yeah, it’s great [but] the tournament is still going. There’s a lot more tennis to be played, a lot more sets to be played, and a lot more physical things to be done. We’re going to enjoy this, but we got to keep going.”

Frances Tiafoe stared down defeat before turning an all-American showdown with Alex Michelsen into one of the US Open’s most dramatic results, and the reward will be a new career-best ranking.

Michelsen led by two sets and even served for the match, leaving Tiafoe with little apparent room to recover. But the momentum shifted in stages, and Tiafoe found his footing just as the match seemed to be slipping away for good. He took advantage when Michelsen tightened late in the third set, then kept pressing through a tense finish to complete a 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6(6) victory.

“In the end I slowly, slowly started to get into my rhythm and started playing better and better but he’s a hell of a player,” said Tiafoe.

“He easily should have won today. Shout out to Alex Michelsen.

“Everyone was asleep the first couple of hours and I was asleep with you all. As it went along, the energy was incredible.”

The result sends Tiafoe into another US Open semifinal and guarantees him a $1,450,000 prize money windfall. It also ensures a rise to a career-high ranking when the ATP list is updated on Monday.

His previous best was No 10, but he is already up to No 8 in the live ATP Rankings, with the chance to climb even further if he reaches his first US Open final.

For Michelsen, the loss brought visible anguish. After a two-hour-and-22-minute battle, he broke down in tears and shared a long embrace with Tiafoe.

“You can’t help but feel sorry for Alex Michelsen, considering how close he was and we all know Frances is a fan favourite in this situation,” said former British No 1 Laura Robson on Sky Sports.

“The tears started coming from Michelsen. It was like a punch in the gut for me and I don’t even know him.

“Having been in these situations when you’re so close to the finishing line and you know it’s on your racket, I think that’s the worst feeling. You know that you kind of did choke a little bit. That’s the absolute worst.

“Brutal day for him but you have to tip your cap to Frances for turning that match around.”

Michelsen will still collect $780,000, though it will be small consolation after missing out on a first Grand Slam semifinal.

Aryna Sabalenka came through one of her sternest tests of the tournament after admitting she feared her US Open title defense had already ended against Linda Noskova.

The world No 1 edged sixth-ranked Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) in the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows, but the scoreline does not fully capture how close she came to defeat. Sabalenka trailed 2-4 in the third set before finding a way back, then recovered from 0-2 down in the 10-point match tiebreak to seal the win.

The result keeps alive her bid for a fifth Grand Slam title, and her first since winning her second US Open crown a year ago. It also preserves her position at the top of the WTA rankings for the moment, even with pressure mounting from Elena Rybakina.

Speaking after the match, Sabalenka was frank about the uncertainty she felt during the closing stages. In her on-court interview, Sabalenka said: “Oh my god guys, what a battle! What an incredible player she is!

“I’m speechless right now because I was pushing myself to the limit, especially in that third set.

“I honestly thought that was it! Thinking the match is over is probably what helped me to feel loose, go for my shots.

“Super happy to get this win – a tough match, tough battle.

“These kind of matches, these kind of crowds, tie-breaks, and these matches that are such high pressure boost my confidence and my energy.

“I’m so glad that somehow I made that ace – it shows that I’m ready to fight, and I’m glad to see that.”

Sabalenka also pointed to one area she intends to improve, adding: “Today I wasn’t ready when I approached the net, so I’ll work a bit better on that.

“For now I just want to relax, recover, and reflect on what happened.”

She has now spent 99 consecutive weeks as WTA world No 1 since overtaking Iga Swiatek in October 2024. Sabalenka started the US Open on 8,575 points, 434 ahead of world No 2 Elena Rybakina, though she is set to lose the 2,000 points from last year’s title run. A defeat to Noskova would have ensured she surrendered top spot next week, but the victory lifts her to 7,355 points and leaves her in contention to keep the ranking lead. Rybakina will move to world No 1 for the first time if she beats Zheng Qinwen to reach the semi-finals on Wednesday.