18-year-old Alex Michelsen Reaches Newport Title Match Second ATP Main Draw

There is in tennis a thin line between passion and anger, ritual and superstition. These all play their role in the rapidly blossoming career of Alex Michelsen.

An 18-year-old American from Southern California, armed with a strong appetite for competition and a reformed temperament, Michelsen this week has hit the tennis radar in a major way with a run to the finals at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, a longstanding grass court event played on the grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I “I feel like I’m playing pretty within my level now,” Michelsen said following his 7-6 (6), 6-4 semifinal win over four-time Newport champion John Isner.

This is Michelsen’s second main draw appearance at an ATP Tour event. The first had also come on grass, Michelsen last month in Mallorca losing 7-5 in the third to another fast-rising American, Chris Eubanks.

It’s been quite a July for Michelsen. Heading back to the U.S. after Mallorca, he won a Challenger event in Chicago, an effort that took Michelsen’s ranking from 250 to 190. At Newport, in addition to Isner, he has beaten three highly skilled veterans—defending champion Maxime Cressy, resilient Aussie James Duckworth, all-courter Mackenzie McDonald. In Sunday’s final, Michelsen will play the intriguingly disruptive left-hander, Adrian Mannarino. “It doesn’t feel like I’m in the final,” said Michelsen. “But that’s probably a good thing.”

Though he stands 6’ 4”, Michelsen hardly plays like the stereotypical picture of a tall man with a big serve and massive forehand. His backhand is a sweet two-hander, a shot Michelsen can drive anywhere he wants, including deft disguise and touch on drop shots. Michelsen also enjoys navigating the transition area of the court and is a comfortable volleyer. “He’s impressively unimpressive,” said Brad Stine, coach of Tommy Paul and Ethan Quinn. “You have to have a pretty deep tennis understanding to see what he’s doing out there.”

Michelsen won more points than Isner did on both his first and second serve.
Michelsen won more points than Isner did on both his first and second serve.

Much of that was on display versus Isner, as Michelsen fought off one problem after another with surefire returns, accurate passing shots, and big serves, including one to fight off a set point in the first set tiebreaker and an ace down the T to close out a love hold in the final game.

“He lives on competition,” said Eric Diaz, who along with Jay Leavitt forms Michelsen’s coaching team. “The kid is truly a gamer. You can see and feel his intensity.” Those many assets helped Michelsen win such prestigious junior events last year as the singles and doubles (with Sebastian Gorzny) at the Easter Bowl and the junior doubles at Wimbledon, also alongside Gorzny.

Michelsen has spent his life in suburban Orange County and began to play tennis at the age of three, greatly aided by a pair of accomplished parents. Father Erik, an attorney, was an All-American at the University of Redlands. Mother Sondra, a retired schoolteacher, lettered at San Diego State. Well into Alex’s teens, he hit nearly every day with Sondra. Over time, he learned two major lessons from her, one about keeping the ball in play, another on maintaining composure.

Alex quickly internalized the consistency message: “Let’s lock in and not miss,” are words he says to himself during those tight moments. The second piece is a work-in-progress. Though Sondra had won a sportsmanship award in college, Alex’s journey has revealed that tranquility is not necessarily passed on genetically.

He’s impressively unimpressive. You have to have a pretty deep tennis understanding to see what he’s doing out there.

According to Diaz, “Alex doesn’t sulk. Alex rages.” While together at events in Europe several weeks ago, Diaz was so disturbed by Michelsen’s behavior that he twice exited the court mid-match. “I told him, ‘You’re too good to act like that,’” said Diaz. Michelsen concurred and has spoken repeatedly about his quest to stay on the good side of that line between intensity and anguish. “[My mom is] very poised on the court,” Michelsen said earlier this year when speaking with Tweener Head, a YouTube program. “I’m nowhere near that level. I wish I was. That’s something I definitely want to strive toward looking into the future.”

So there Michelsen is, an American teenager who has only just begun to enter the life he has long envisioned. “He’s learned how to dream and see himself doing things,” said Diaz. “It’s hard to go out there if you don’t truly believe.”

As those ambitions come to life, Michelsen remains very much attuned to who he is. Hamburgers are his favorite food. “His palate isn’t quite global, at least not yet,” said Diaz, well aware that in time much will begin to change for Michelsen.

But not everything. “When I get to a tournament and I win, I try to eat the same things, use the same hat, same racquets, same shower in the locker room,” Michelsen said earlier this year in a story that appeared on the ATP Tour’s website. “I’m a There is a fine line in the game of tennis between passion and anger, etiquette and superstition. All of this played an important role in Alex Michelsen’s burgeoning career. Armed with a strong desire to play and an refined personality, the 18-year-old American tennis player from Southern California Michelsen impressed the tennis world this week by reaching the Infosys final. The Hall of Fame Open, a permanent grass court event held on the grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI with four-time Newport champion John Isner.

This is Michelsen’s second main draw on an ATP tour. The first match was also on grass, where Michelsen lost in Mallorca last month 7-5 in the third round to another fast-rising American, Chris Obanks.
July has been a very long month for Michelsen. Returning to the United States after Mallorca, he won a Challenger event in Chicago, an effort that raised Michelsen’s rating from 250 to 190. In Newport, in addition to Isner, he defeated three veterans who were highly skilled: defending champion Maxime Cressi, and Australian Flex. . James Duckworth, Diplomat Mackenzie MacDonald. In Sunday’s final, Michelsen will face tricky and troublesome Southern player Adrian Mannarino. “I don’t feel like I’m in the final,” Michelsen said. “But that might be a good thing.”

Despite being 6ft 4in, Michelsen hardly plays like the stereotype of a tall guy with a big serve and huge forehands. He hits lightly with both hands, a blow that Michelsen can aim anywhere he wants, including a clever faux pas and a touch on the fall. shots. Michelsen also enjoys navigating the court’s transitional area and is a laid-back volleyball player. It was very frustrating,” said Brad Stein, coach of Tommy Ball and Ethan Coen. “You have to have a deep understanding of tennis to see what he’s doing out there.”

Michelsen won more points than Isner on the first and second serve. Michelsen won more points than Isner on the first and second serve. Much of that was evident in the match against Isner, as Michelsen ran into problem after problem with solid returns, accurate passes and big serves, including a strike to win back the set point on the serve game. Love saved in the last game.
“He lives out of competition,” said Eric Diaz, who, with Jay Levitt, founded Michelsen’s coaching staff.

“A child is truly a player. You can see and feel her strength. Many of these assets helped Michelsen win prestigious junior events last year such as singles and doubles (with Sebastian Gorzny) at the Easter Bowl and junior doubles at Wimbledon, also with Gorzny.

Michelson spent his life on the outskirts of Orange County and began playing tennis at the age of three, he helped him greatly by a pair of parents.

Father Eric, a lawyer, was an American at the University of Ridlands. Sondra’s mother, a retired teacher, attended San Diego State. In his teenage years Alex bumped into Sondra almost every day. Over time, he learned two big lessons from her, one about keeping the ball in play, and the other about keeping your composure.

Alex quickly grasped the message of consistency: “Lock up and don’t miss,” are the words he tells himself during these difficult times.

The second part is a work in progress. Although Sondra won the athletics award in college, Alex’s journey revealed that coolness isn’t necessarily genetic. He was very impressed. You have to have a deep understanding of tennis to see what he’s doing out there.

According to Diaz, “Alex doesn’t binge. Alex went on a rampage. Attending events in Europe together a few weeks earlier, Diaz was so upset by Michelsen’s behavior that he twice left the field in the middle of a game.”

“I told him, ‘You’re acting like that,'” Diaz said. Michelsen agreed and spoke several times about his mission to stay on the right side of the line between intensity and anger.

“[My mom] has a lot of faith in the court,” Michelsen said earlier this year in a conversation with Tweener Head, a YouTube show. “I’m far from reaching that level. I want to be. That is something that I really want to strive for in the future.

So there you have it, Michelsen, an American teenager is just beginning to enter the life he has long envisioned. “He learned to dream and see himself doing things,” says Diaz. “It’s hard to get there if you don’t really believe.”

When those ambitions became a reality, Mikkelsen has remained very much in tune with who he is. Burger is his favorite food. “His taste is not entirely cosmopolitan, at least not yet,” says Diaz, who is well aware that, over time, many things will begin to change for Michelsen. But not at all.

“When I go to a tournament and win, I try to eat the same things, use the same hat, the same racquet, and the same bathroom in the locker room,” Michelsen said earlier this year in an article on the ATP Tour. website. .

“I’m a bit superstitious but I don’t think it’s overdone. Sometimes, when I travel with people, they say to me, ‘Are we still eating here? »»

When it comes to tennis, Michelsen’s areas of improvement include the forehand and serve. Throughout juniors, Michelsen broke serve so often that he took his games for granted. But he sees among professional players a much lower chance of winning a break point. So, once again, Michelsen is looking closely at the narrow gap between victory and defeat.

Over time, Michelsen would continue to go back and forth through those fine lines. But on hand, is there something thicker: college or professional? Last fall, Michelsen signed with the University of Georgia (where Diaz plays and his father, Manny, has coached the Bulldogs since the 1980s). In early 2023, Michelsen has a rating of 600 in the world I think college tennis is the next logical place.

But now, after breaking into the top 140 by making it to the final, Michelsen finds himself at a new crossroads. Diaz said, “The US Open is a moment where he can sort the shots and see what happens next.”

“I have to go home and talk to my family and see what we do,” Michelsen told Newport on Saturday. The logical and practical scenario for Michelsen this fall is to put off college, keep playing, see where tennis goes and then make a decision.

There is also a third lesson that Sondra Michelsen taught Alex. It involved footwork, with the mother constantly reminding her son to always take small steps when moving to hit the ball.

But now, with no intention of rebelling, Alex Michelsen has taken some very important steps that make him the center of the conversation around tennis.