"I know how much that hurts" - Frances Tiafoe shows gratitude in victory when consoling emotional Alex Michelsen

Frances Tiafoe was elated following his remarkable comeback win over fellow American Alex Michelsen. As he was set to race off into celebration, something snapped inside and he raced towards the net where he and his emotional and devastated opponent had a poignant moment following an extremely enthralling battle.

After finding himself two sets down, Tiafoe was in a whole heap of trouble. The favourite going into the tie, he had found a new lease of life on the court in recent times. A win would guarantee him a return to the top 10 with his Cincinnati Open final run backed up by at the minimum a quarter-final at Flushing Meadows.

However, this US Open run was not set to end. Two sets and a break down, the 28-year-old pulled off a miraculous comeback to prevail 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6). There were a number of sketch moments. As mentioned, Michelsen had a break advantage in the third set and even had a chance to serve it out. The 22-year-old was competing in his first ever Grand Slam quarter-final, and it may have got to him after snatching a 3-0 lead in the fifth and deciding set. He regained his composure with a tiebreak imminent.

After a closely fought start, Tiafoe crept ahead and managed to keep ahold of his advantage right until the end, delivering a huge heartbreaking moment to his fellow countryman but in turn reaching a first Grand Slam semi-final since this tournament two years ago.

Tiafoe is notorious with the odd five-set battle. He has a tendency of being dragged into these types of matches, and one of getting out on the right side of one. This occurred in this instance, but there have been times that he was on the wrong end of a marathon match.

Four hours and 38 minutes the athletes were on the court for. After hitting the final winner to book his spot in the last-four, Tiafoe went to lift his shirt over his face after throwing his racket away.

Then in a split second, his whole persona shifted and he showed his true colours, sportingly rushing to the net where Michelsen was already heading to shake hands with the umpire, the sinking feeling starting to hit in.

He stopped in his tracks to see his victorious opponent come over to him and offer a big hug, saying some nice words of relief and encouragement as Michelsen struggled to contain the emotions. Tiafoe then went off to celebrate his immense win.

Afterwards when speaking to ESPN, the now three-time Grand Slam semi-finalist explained his reasoning in going to consul his defeated rival. "As soon as I hugged him, I saw he was crying already, and I was like, 'Man, I know. I've been there.' I've been there twice, to be fair," he said.

"Lost in five. Obviously, you know, I wasn't serving for the maximum eight semis, but he's young and he hasn't been there, and we're super tight."

He went on to comment on their relationship away from the court. "Like, we've always had a great relationship. We laugh and joke all the time. He's like one of my good buddies on tour, and I know how much that hurts. I know how much you wanted it today. It's something that you dream about, so I just told him, 'Bro, I know, but you're gonna be here so many more times, man, and I'm gonna be in a rocking chair when you do so.'"

Tiafoe marches on with a first Grand Slam final in his sight. Ben Shelton will be his opponent with an American guaranteed in the final. The 23-year-old is in superb form after also being involved in a mega five-set thriller himself, taking down Carlos Alcaraz. It is lined up to be another great match of tennis with the stakes incredibly high.