Although his journey to the Cleveland Open concerned spending an evening contained in the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Alex Michelsen is making one of the best of his second ATP Challenger Tour look.
On Tuesday, the 18-year-old wild card was calm, cool, and picked up as he defeated former World No. 8 Jack Sock 7-6(3), 6-4 on the Challenger 75 occasion in Cleveland, Ohio.
“I used to be feeling good all through the match and I did every thing properly,” Michelsen stated. “I executed the sport plan very properly. I knew he was going to come back out firing. His serve and forehand are clearly incredible, that’s how he obtained to Top 10 on the planet. But I caught to the sport plan and it labored properly. Best win of my life thus far.”
Michelsen, who hails from Southern California, is a senior in highschool and is ready to graduate from an internet faculty this spring. After triumphing on the ITF M15 in Edmond, Oklahoma every week in the past, the teenager started his journey to the Cleveland Open, however it wasn’t with out interruption. Michelsen missed his connecting flight in Dallas, which compelled him to get some shut-eye within the airport. The teen shared he enjoys a routine and whereas the journey to Cleveland could have been hindered, he nonetheless pulled off the opening-round victory.
“When I get to a match and I win, I attempt to eat the identical issues, use the identical hat, similar racquets, similar bathe within the locker room,” Michelsen stated. “I’m a little bit superstitious however I don’t assume it’s too excessive. Sometimes after I’m travelling with individuals, they’re like, ‘We should eat right here once more?’”
Since successful the 2022 FILA Easter Bowl in singles and doubles (w/ Sebastian Gorzny), Michelsen has been constructing upon his momentum. In October, the American superior by means of qualifying on the Tiburon Challenger and earned his maiden Challenger fundamental draw win in opposition to China’s Shang Juncheng.
Alex Michelsen in motion on the 2023 Cleveland Challenger. Credit: Ben Peskar
The University of Georgia commit, who started taking part in tennis at age three, trains with coaches Jay Leavitt and Eric Diaz in Laguna Niguel, California. Michelsen grew up across the sport and to this present day, he eats, sleeps, and breathes tennis. His dad, Erik, performed on the University of Redlands and now works as a lawyer whereas his mother, Sondra, performed for San Diego State University and is a retired third-grade instructor.
The California teen stated it’s not unusual for him to spend 5 hours a day on courtroom when he’s coaching at dwelling. Boasting a strong backhand and deft really feel across the web, the World No. 467 within the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings hopes so as to add his identify to the subsequent technology of high American gamers.
“I don’t know the final time we had this many Americans within the Top 50 or 100,” Michelsen stated. “Ben [Shelton’s] rise has been unbelievable, he went from like 600 to 40 in 13 months. All these guys within the Top 50… I feel the subsequent 5 years are wanting good for American tennis. I practice with Learner Tien, who was a finalist on the Australian Open juniors. Hopefully we will get a No. 1, that will be actually superior.”
After incomes his career-best win within the opening spherical of the Cleveland Challenger, tennis followers ought to recollect the identify: Alex Michelsen.
Source: www.atptour.com