Francis Tiafoe sets career-high ranking with epic U.S. Open quarterfinal comeback

After rallying from a two-sets-to-love deficit and down three-to-zero in the fifth set to Alex Michelsen in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, Francis Tiafoe has reached his career-high ranking of eighth in the ATP live rankings. Tiafoe rallied for a 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) win over Michelsen.

Tiafoe beat Michelsen in a four-hour, 38-minute match. The win over Michelsen was the second five-set victory by Tiafoe in the 2026 U.S. Open over another American. Tiafoe beat Martin Damm 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in three hours and 48 minutes in the first round. Tiafoe won his second-, third- and fourth-round matches in straight sets.

The win over Michelsen propels Tiafoe to his third U.S. Open semifinal in the last five years. Even-numbered years have been good for Tiafoe, with his U.S. Open semifinal appearances in 2022, 2024 and now 2026. Those are the only Grand Slam semifinal appearances in Tiafoe's career.

Other than the three U.S. Open semifinal appearances, Tiafoe has advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2019 Australian Open, 2023 U.S. Open and 2025 French Open. The deepest run for Tiafoe at Wimbledon was the 2022 fourth round. Tiafoe's 24-11 U.S. Open record is his best at a Grand Slam.