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Key events
Second set: Tiafoe 5-7, 3-5 Michelsen* (*denotes next server)
Tiafoe, with his first-serve percentage now down at 38% as he attempts to stay in this second set, edges to 40-30, and gets over the line when Michelsen batters a backhand into the net. So Michelsen will be forced to serve this out.
Second set: Tiafoe* 5-7, 2-5 Michelsen (*denotes next server)
15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game Michelsen. That’s how you back up the break.
Michelsen breaks: Tiafoe 5-7, 2-4 Michelsen* (*denotes next server)
Tiafoe needs to find his serving mojo, though, if he’s to mount a serious comeback … and once more, he’s down, at 15-30. A quite ridiculous point follows, drawing ooohs and aaaaahs from the crowd, who’ve been rather quiet during this match because of their divided loyalties, and Michelsen eventually has Tiafoe on a piece of string, dragging him out wide to force the error! And that knocks the wind out of Tiafoe, who receives a slap on the wrists for ignoring the serve clock at 30-40, before being broken for the fifth time.
Tiafoe breaks: Tiafoe* 5-7, 2-3 Michelsen (*denotes next server)
But Michelsen, perhaps suddenly playing like a man who knows he has something to lose, promptly falls break point down at 30-40. Michelsen rams down a first serve to save it, but is soon facing a second BP … and this time he cuts Tiafoe down with a slice. This could prove to be a crucial game, with Michelsen trying to extend his supremacy and Tiafoe battling to get back into this quarter-final. And Michelsen rather hands the break back with a double fault and netted forehand!
Michelsen breaks: Tiafoe 5-7, 1-3 Michelsen* (*denotes next server)
Tiafoe has been behind in every service game apart from one and this game is no different. 0-15. 0-30. 0-40. Tiafoe has described the support from the home crowd this tournament as like “an out-of-body experience … it’s like you’re not even touching the ground … the energy is so high” – but he’s not been bouncing around the court today. He does, however, show plenty of energy on the first break point, sprinting to his right to fire off a forehand cross-court winner. But Michelsen steps into the baseline on the third BP to punish Tiafoe’s tame serve. Michelsen leads by a set and a break and it’s no less than he deserves.
Second set: Tiafoe* 5-7, 1-2 Michelsen (*denotes next server)
Both these men – as if they need reminding – are trying to break the much-talked-about 23-year grand slam singles drought for American men, and Ben Shelton is still in the running too, though he has the unenviable task of facing Carlos Alcaraz later, with the winner of each match to meet in the semi-finals. The perennially popular Alcaraz will turn out to be the villain for once if he were to take out Shelton and then Tiafoe or Michelsen to reach the final. But I’m getting ahead of myself … Michelsen holds to 30 despite a second double fault.
Second set: Tiafoe 5-7, 1-1 Michelsen* (*denotes next server)
Michelsen, now 13-0 for sets won this fortnight, opens the second set with a hold to 15, before applying more pressure on the Tiafoe serve at deuce. Tiafoe has landed only three serves into the ad box all match. He’s not going to reach a third US Open semi-final serving like that. But he advances to game point … and this time manages to ping a first serve down the T on the ad side, and Michelsen can’t get it back into play. Tiafoe’s on the board in set two.
Elsewhere: Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, the top seeds in the women’s doubles, are just getting under way in their quarter-final, as are Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid, the five-time men’s wheelchair doubles champions, in their opening match.
Michelesen wins the first set 7-5
Tiafoe, serving to save the first set for the second time, still isn’t landing enough first serves – his first-serve percentage is down at 44% – and it’s inviting the pressure, as Michelsen makes his move to 0-30. Michelsen constructs the next point so well and looks set to bury Tiafoe’s backhand … before misfiring. 15-30. But soon it’s 15-40, as Tiafoe’s lob lands long. Michelsen has two more set points to add to the one he had a couple of games ago … and this time the younger American pounces on a meek second serve to seize the opener against the older American! The Arthur Ashe crowd, their loyalties divided, aren’t exactly in raptures.
First set: Tiafoe* 5-6 Michelsen (*denotes next server)
Michelsen hits his (very big 6ft 4in) stride to race to 40-0, with his seventh forehand winner of the day. And he secures a second successive love hold. He’s getting more easy points on serve than Tiafoe, who can perhaps consider himself a little lucky to still be in the running in this first set.
First set: Tiafoe 5-5 Michelsen* (*denotes next server)
With Tiafoe serving to stay in the opener, Michelsen can’t capitalise on an inviting second serve on the first point, so it’s 15-0. And then 30-15. But Tiafoe, with his team sitting courtside wearing T-shirts emblazoned with BIG FOE, double faults for 30-all. Big Foe misses his next first serve, too, and goes on to lose the rally, to hand Michelsen a set point at 30-40. Michelsen misses it with an errant return and doesn’t recover from the disappointment, with Tiafoe taking the next two points to escape with the hold.
First set: Tiafoe* 4-5 Michelsen (*denotes next server)
Michelsen sees Tiafoe’s hold to 15 and raises it with a love hold, the first of this quarter-final. After an error-strewn start, this first set is building to an intriguing finale.
First set: Tiafoe 4-4 Michelsen* (*denotes next server)
Tiafoe is starting to show glimpses of the form he hit against Daniil Medvedev in the previous round, when he was so locked in and consistently showed the right shot selection to dismiss the 2021 champion in straight sets, but he can’t make any inroads on Michelsen’s serve – before bringing the fire on his own, with the new balls, holding to 15. After both had the serving jitters early on, they’ve found their range.
First set: Tiafoe 3-3 Michelsen* (*denotes next server)
Tiafoe leads their head-to-head 2-0, by the way, beating Michelsen on the Houston clay last year and in Dallas indoors two years ago, both in straight sets. But Michelsen is riding a wave now, playing in his first grand-slam quarter-final having not dropped a set this tournament, so I’m not sure how much we can read into the h2h, though I do think over the best of five sets the 28-year-old Tiafoe will perhaps have too much athleticism and experience for the 22-year-old. But Tiafoe needs to start holding serve … and he’s in danger once more as a wild miss gives Michelsen 30-40. There’s a customary “C’MON” from Tiafoe as Michelsen nets on the break point … and Tiafoe takes the game from deuce, his first hold, sealing it with a first ace.
Tiafoe breaks: Tiafoe* 2-3 Michelsen (*denotes next server)
Tiafoe is someone who loves to feed off the energy of the crowd but the atmosphere on Arthur Ashe is rather muted right now – probably because the spectators are still recovering from the drama of Sabalenka v Noskova and also perhaps they don’t know which American to get behind. They’re roaring, though, when Tiafoe charges down Michelsen’s improvised half-volley, hit from the baseline … and he executes the perfect drop shot! 30-40. And now it’s four breaks in five games, when Tiafoe, his bright pink shoes squeaking SO loudly (or perhaps it’s Michelsen’s – one of them needs to change their shoes), prevails in the longest rally of the match so far!
Michelsen breaks: Tiafoe 1-3 Michelsen* (*denotes next server)
Tiafoe is bashing his racket and wincing after falling 0-15 down; he’s yet to win a point on serve. And he’s shrugging his shoulders when he balloons a backhand long for 0-30. The 11th seed and two-time semi-finalist in New York finally gets a point on the board for 15-30 … but a mis-timed volley hands Michelsen break points at 15-40. Michelsen doesn’t make the first … but is the aggressor on the second, because of a stinging return … and Tiafoe tonks long! That’s the third break in four games … can Michelsen now consolidate it?
First set: Tiafoe* 1-2 Michelsen (*denotes next server)
The 6ft 5in Michelsen, who unsurprisingly given his height doesn’t have the greatest movement (once describing himself as a “giraffe on ice” on the tennis court) but has such a dangerous serve, settles in his second service game, holding to 15. It’s the first hold in this first of the men’s quarter-finals.
Tiafoe breaks … and Michelsen breaks straight back: Tiafoe 1-1 Michelsen* (*denotes next server)
Tiafoe, in an eye-catching neon pink and grey outfit, his cycling shorts bringing back memories of Agassi circa 1989/1990, is already sprinting to his chair after seizing a break to 15 in the opening game, courtesy of four Michelsen errors. A nervy, nervy start from the 22-year-old in his first grand slam semi-final, but he does take the first point on Tiafoe’s serve after an 18-shot rally. And now it’s Tiafoe’s turn to throw in some loose errors, before Michelsen drills a backhand winner down the line to break back to love! That’s his money shot. Eight of the first nine points have gone against the server.
Thanks Taha. So before we focus on Tiafoe v Michelsen, a word on Sabalenka, who answered a lot of questions about her form and state of mind with that clutch win, her toughest test of this tournament yet. She’ll lose her world No 1 ranking tomorrow if Elena Rybakina defeats Zheng Qinwen – but she clearly doesn’t want to give up her US Open title. It was a high-quality match – there have been so many in the women’s draw – and Noskova played brilliantly, her Wimbledon title clearly no fluke, but Sabalenka had the slightly bigger weapons and played the pressure points so well. The three-peat is still on and in the semi-finals she’ll meet the winner of Jessica Pegula v Emma Navarro, who play later in the night session.
Katy Murrells is back as Tiafoe and Michelsen prepare to kick-off.
And on to the next. Frances Tiafoe, the 11th seed, meets his compatriot Alex Michelsen. Tiafoe is targeting a third US Open semi-final; Michelsen, 22, is celebrating his longest run at a grand slam.
Sabalenka, the 2024 and 2025 champion, is still on course to triumph in 2026. It was some battle to get into the semis, though.
“I’m speechless right now,” says Sabalenka, “because I was pushing myself to the limit in this match, especially in the third set. I honestly thought that’s it, the match is over, and that’s probably what helped me feel loose and go after my shots.”
Aryna Sabalenka beats Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (7)
Sabalenka drags a backhand wide – she leads 7-6. Noskova nets but then laces a forehand winner after the ball bounces off the net cord. It’s 8-7 to Sabalenka, and she’s quickly on to match point at 9-7. Sabalenka to serve … and a second-serve ace completes the job!
Noskova to serve … and it’s a terrible time for a double fault. 4-3 to Sabalenka, who keeps calm to wallop a forehand winner after some decent resistance by Noskova. Sabalenka goes to 6-3 … before Noskova bends in a backhand winner. Six-four, and then a Noskova ace to make it 6-5. Sabalenka sends down an ace in response. She leads 7-5.
Both players are up to the net immediately … and Noskova is the winner before sending a backhand down the line. She leads 2-0. Sabalenka kisses the baseline with a return. 2-1 to Noskova, who then goes long. Two-all. Both find the net and it’s 3-3 at the changeover.
Third set: Sabalenka* 7-6, 3-6, 6-6 Noskova (*denotes next server)
Noskova overdoes a forehand to let Sabalenka go to 15-all. And then comes a piledriver of a forehand, the speed too much for Noskova … an ace is the perfect response. Thirty-all. And then a wide serve to set up a successful march to the net … Sabalenka goes long and we’re heading to a deciding tie-break.
Third set: Sabalenka 7-6, 3-6, 6-5* Noskova (*denotes next server)
There are big, vicious serves flying in from both sides – Sabalenka races through her hold without dropping a point. The pressure is quickly back on to Noskova.
Third set: Sabalenka* 7-6, 3-6, 5-5 Noskova (*denotes next server)
Brilliant from Noskova, serving to stay in the match under the closing roof … and doing so with a love hold.
Third set: Sabalenka 7-6, 3-6, 5-4 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
The resurgent Sabalenka bangs down an ace, holding to 15 in quick time. This is authoritative stuff from the world No 1.
Third set: Sabalenka* 7-6, 3-6, 4-4 Noskova (*denotes next server)
It’s been a while since Sabalenka won a point on Noskova’s serve … but the defending champion gets herself to 0-30 with a passing forehand, and a lengthy rally goes her way to make it 0-40! Three break points for Sabalenka, and she needs just one! Noskova overcooks a slice and this humdinger is still well and truly alive.
Third set: Sabalenka 7-6, 3-6, 3-4 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
A 15-shot rally closes with a Noskova backhand into the net, and Sabalenka lasers a forehand down to make it 30-15. Sabalenka, her composure regained, end things with an ace.
Third set: Sabalenka* 7-6, 3-6, 2-4 Noskova (*denotes next server)
Noskova is sprinting through her service – and it’s another love hold! Noskova’s won 12 of the last 15 poins.
Third set: Sabalenka 7-6, 3-6, 2-3 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
Sabalenka double-faults before sending a backhand wide, with Noskova up to the net. The latter has an opening at 0-30 … and Sabalenka double-faults again! Three break points! A hyper-active rally follows, with Sabalenka whipping a forehand winner … but Noskova wins the next! Wow.
Third set: Sabalenka* 7-6, 3-6, 2-2 Noskova (*denotes next server)
Noskova’s 14th ace – Sabalenka has eight – helps complete a love hold. Swift work.
Third set: Sabalenka 7-6, 3-6, 2-1 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
Sabalenka is moved back and forth by Noskova, but the former still manages to close the rally with a backhand winner. Another frankly ridiculous backhand winner, where she’s crouching low but still finding power and placement, completes the hold.
Third set: Sabalenka* 7-6, 3-6, 1-1 Noskova (*denotes next server)
Noskova is up to the net for a slicing volley, and Sabalenka is deeply annoyed with her wayward backhand in response. A misjudgement from Noskova when trying to forehand a moon ball hands Sabalenka a break point … but Noskova rescues herself with a forehand winner. Sabalenka races forward to get to a drop shot and deliver an audacious winner … but Noskova eventually holds.
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