So close yet so far: Frances Tiafoe exits the US Open distraught as emotions evident after latest semi-final setback

One of the most harrowing sights for tennis players at this US Open is walking through that dreaded tunnel on Arthur Ashe Stadium as the loser. As the rounds prolong, that sinking feeling hits harder, with Frances Tiafoe feeling the full effects following his 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 defeat against fellow countryman Ben Shelton in the semi-finals of the US Open.

It was a third semi-final at Flushing Meadows, but unfortunately the same result for the 28-year-old whose wait for a Grand Slam final prolongs. However, it was a run to be proud of in an emphatic return to his best form.

Set to be ranked eighth in the world in what is a new career high, Tiafoe has 10 of his last 12 matches in an incredible streak of form. This began with a run to the Cincinnati Open final, where Arthur Fils managed to fend him off before his brilliant campaign in New York ended in heartbreak against Shelton.

He won the first set which subsequently sent a statement to the higher ranked American that he is in the mood. Nevertheless, Shelton reacted and upped the gears with a terrific performance that kept his opponent at bay. He swept up the next three sets and booked his spot in a maiden major final where Alexander Zverev waits in what is set to be an enthralling match.

Tiafoe would have dearly loved to be in that contest, but once more he falls short right at the end. The countless positives from this tournament will sink in over the next coming days, but straight after the defeat, he was in despair.

Trudging off Arthur Ashe, he had his towel over his head, hiding his face as he wandered back to the locker room with his equipment. He was distraught and gutted not to have reached the final, and that was pictured in the few seconds of film that caught him in that moment in time.

Tiafoe attempted to dissect his loss against Shelton in his press conference. "It's obviously a tough moment. It's difficult. I had my chance. Obviously, luckily, I've been in this situation many times before, but it's still tough, you know? I wanted to reach a Grand Slam final, of course. It was an important match. You have to give Ben credit. He played well. He played well tonight. He served very well, which made things really difficult for me, while I didn't serve as well.

"We wanted to win this match. It's been a fantastic few weeks, but I haven't been able to finish the job, and that will probably be my next challenge."

The support and energy he has received from the fans in New York have been so positive that it has made him emotional. "The love I receive is incredible. It's something that truly moves me to tears; coming from where I started, the love I feel here is insane. In every match I play, everyone—the staff, the security guards — everyone wants to see me succeed. Friends, family, my team... there's a fantastic energy. At the hotel where I stay, they're so excited to see me every year. I feel good; I feel great being here in New York."

There is still a lot to play for in the final few months of the season. Tiafoe will compete in the Japan Open alongside the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Shelton in a few weeks before the penultimate Masters 1000 event in the form of the Shanghai Masters occurs. This is a golden chance for the American to kick on and add more ranking points to his tally. Poor form this time last year saw him take a hiatus from the sport, ending his season early as he stepped back and re-assessed his career. The changes he had since made have proven to be pivotal.

Now finding himself sixth in the ATP Race to Turin, he could feature in the ATP Finals for the very first time. To do that, he will need to keep up this consistent streak of form with another deep run in one of the upcoming Masters 1000 events in Shanghai or Paris possibly crucial.

"It's about more or less continuing with what I've been doing all year," he commented, eyeing up the rest of the year. "Just keep working. I've really gotten into the work, so it's not something I'll... well, I'll probably feel sorry for myself for a couple of days, but then I can get back to work and take it to Turin. I want to be at the ATP Finals. I want to play. That shows you've played really well from start to finish, and it's something I really want to achieve. It was one of the important goals I put on my vision board, and I want to get there."