Two sets down, and then what?
His first serve had gone missing. Fewer than 40% through three sets. At this level, against a player in form, that usually means the night is done.
And yet Frances Tiafoe is into the US Open semifinals. He beat Alex Michelsen overnight at Flushing Meadows: 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6, the super tiebreak going 10-6. One number frames how unlikely it was. Before this match Tiafoe was 2-17 in Grand Slams after losing the opening two sets, and 0-4 of those in New York.
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Michelsen had control of everything
The 22-year-old American had not dropped a set all tournament, the only man left in the draw who could say that. He broke in the third game, took the first set 7-5, then broke twice more for the second 6-3.
Midway through the third, Michelsen led 4-3 with a break. Tiafoe worked three break points. Michelsen won five straight points. 5-3. In theory, over.
Then his serve cracked at the worst possible moment. Tiafoe broke in the 10th game, roared, woke the stadium up, and took the set 7-5.
A fifth set turned on its head
The fourth was one-way traffic, done in 6-3 with barely a contest.
Michelsen came back swinging in the decider. A love break, 3-0. Tiafoe broke straight back in the fifth game, and from there nobody dropped another serve. In the tiebreak the world No 11 grabbed the mini-break immediately, led 4-2 at the change of ends, then 7-4. A backhand winner down the line ended it.
Michelsen could not hold back the tears at the net. Tiafoe pulled him in for a hug. The 22-year-old falls to 0-3 in five-setters and leaves New York without the first major semi-final of his career.
Tiafoe is back in the last four here for the third time in five years. He has still never made the final.
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