Alex Michelsen
ON THE RECORD · 6 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“After I double-faulted twice, I was like, ‘Oh, here we go. It’s not good.’ I feel like I just handed it to him. Then after that he started playing really good.”
Alex Michelsen · said 2026-09-08 · reported 2026-09-09
Michelsen said his back-to-back double faults in the third set let Tiafoe back into the match.
“The match was very emotionally draining. Then, you know, it’s just Frances. I don’t think anyone else could have made me cry in that moment, to be honest. Maybe Learner [Tien]. But Frances, he’s such a good guy, and he said a lot of personal things and just kind of got to me.”
Alex Michelsen · said 2026-09-08 · reported 2026-09-09
Michelsen said Tiafoe's personal words to him after the match caused him to break down in tears.
“He wasn’t playing like Frances,”
Alex Michelsen · said 2026-09-08 · reported 2026-09-09
Michelsen noted that Tiafoe's level changed during the fourth set of their quarter-final.
“You’re four points away from making a semi-final of the US Open,”
Alex Michelsen · said 2026-09-08 · reported 2026-09-09
Michelsen reflected on being close to reaching the US Open semi-finals before the match turned.
“Then I kind of let him back in at 5-4. Then after that, he was playing, you know, like Frances does on Ashe. After that, it was a dogfight.”
Alex Michelsen · said 2026-09-08 · reported 2026-09-09
Michelsen described letting Tiafoe back into the match and the ensuing battle in the later sets.
“I think it was a combination of a lot of things,”
Alex Michelsen · said 2026-09-08 · reported 2026-09-09
Michelsen explained his emotional reaction after the four-and-a-half-hour defeat to Tiafoe.