Frances Tiafoe has cut short his celebration to console friendly rival Alex Michelsen.
According to ABC News, the 11th seed recovered time and time again to beat Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(10/6) and end the 22-year-old's first trip past the second round at his home slam.
Unseeded world number 46 Michelsen, whose previous best at a grand slam was a fourth-round berth at the 2025 Australian Open, was up a break in the third set and served for the match at 5-4 but Tiafoe won seven straight games to stay alive and take a commanding lead in the fourth frame.
Michelsen refused to go away though, taking a 3-0 in the decider, only for Tiafoe to once again storm back and take the set in a 10-point tiebreak.
After drilling a forehand passing shot down the line to secure the win after four hours and 38 minutes, Tiafoe began to celebrate his great escape before cutting his elation short to embrace his compatriot, who cried into his shoulder.
Tiafoe recalls comforting Michelsen
Following the match Tiafoe revealed that Michelsen started crying when he went to hug him.
Tiafoe told ESPN, “As soon as I hugged him I saw he was crying already. I was like 'Man I know. I've been there twice, lost in five.' … He's young and he hasn't been there. We're super tight. We've always had a great relationship. We laugh and joke all the time. He's one of my good buddies on tour.”
“I know how much that hurts. I know how much he wanted that today. It's something that you dream about. I just told him, 'You're going to be here so many more times, man. And I'm going to be in a rocking chair when you do,'" he added.
Michelsen left the court with a towel on his head, raising his arm to acknowledge the cheers from the crowd.
