09/08/26 11:02:00
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09/08 20:40 CDT Tiafoe gives Michelsen a hug and a shoulder to cry on after his
US Open victory
Tiafoe gives Michelsen a hug and a shoulder to cry on after his US Open victory
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- 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.
"I really like Alex. I really, really do, and I just wanted to come up there
and just dap him up," Tiafoe said. "I didn't think it was going to be as long
as it was, but I understand the moment. He was definitely crying on my
shoulders. Yeah, we just had some words for each other, and that was it."
Michelsen was playing in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal and was just a few
points from winning it after taking 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.
Michelsen said he didn't speak much when they met at the net.
"I was trying to keep it together and I didn't do a good job of that,"
Michelsen said. "He was saying a lot of nice personal things. ?You'll be there.
When I'm older, you're going to be here, and we're going to play it again in
this type of circumstance.' All that good stuff. He's a great guy for consoling
me in that moment."
This was the third pro match between the two, with Tiafoe winning both previous
encounters. Michelsen said after his fourth-round victory that Tiafoe was an
"unbelievable guy and a very good friend of mine," and said similar after
Tuesday's defeat.
"I don't think anyone else could have made me cry in that moment, to be
honest," Michelsen said.
Tiafoe is 28, one of the leaders of American men's tennis and a fan favorite at
the U.S. Open, where he has reached his third semifinal. He said Sunday in
looking ahead to the match that he had developed a good relationship with
Michelsen.
"We're always laughing and joking," he said.
Michelsen left the court with a towel on his head, raising his arm to
acknowledge the cheers from the crowd. Tiafoe told those fans what he thought
of Michelsen's performance.
"I mean, he easily could have won today so shout out to Alex Michelsen," Tiafoe
said.
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