When Alex Michelsen needed a shoulder to cry on after a devastating loss to Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, his opponent was the first one there for him.
After a 4-hour, 38-minute slugfest on Arthur Ashe, the lasting image from the battle between the two Americans was Tiafoe embracing Michelsen while the 22-year-old worked through his emotions following the loss in a five-set tiebreaker.
Michelsen called the match “emotionally draining,” but what made him the most emotional were the words that Tiafoe had for him.
“I don’t think anyone else could have made me cry in that moment, to be honest,” Michelsen said. “Frances, he’s such a good guy, and he said a lot of personal things and just kind of got to me.”
So what did Tiafoe say to Michelsen?
“You’ll be there. When I’m older, you’re going to be here, and we’re going to play again in this type of circumstance,” Michelsen recalled Tiafoe saying. “All that good stuff. He’s a great guy for consoling me in that moment.”
Michelsen had been on the cusp of the first semifinal appearance of his career before Tiafoe battled back to take the third set 7-5 and take the next two sets to move on to the next round at Flushing Meadows.
Even with Tuesday’s loss, things are looking up for the 22-year-old California native, who spent most of this year’s tournament flying under the radar until he stormed out to a 2-0 lead on Tiafoe in the quarters. Michelsen will move up to No. 33 in the ATP rankings and Tiafoe, who has developed a close friendship with Michelsen, expressed confidence that this wasn’t the end for the youngster.
“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,” Tiafoe said on ESPN.
And despite the disappointment, the confidence seemed to still be there for Michelsen.
“It’s definitely one of the bigger disappointments,” he said. “But I’m just super happy that I showed myself I can make a quarter of a Slam, and I’m only 22. I’ve got a lot of time to grow physically and mentally. I’m going to be here again. I know it.”
He added: “Next time I’m in this situation, I’m going to learn, and I’m going to do things the right way.”
