“I’m quite obsessive about this: if I eat eggs for breakfast and then win the match, then the next day I don’t change the menu. I know, I’m strict about this”. This big boy (193 centimetres) from California is superstitious, whose story in no way recalls the youthful events of a predestined man.
Born on August 25, 2004 in California, he began his competitive activity on the cadet circuit in March 2022. Four titles thus entered the trophy room: the first in East Lansing, Michigan, in November. In 2023 in January he hits the mark in Edmond, Oklahoma, further on he is the best in Chicago and Knoxville; this latest success paves the way for him to reach the top 100. We are in November.
Meanwhile, Alex He made his debut in the senior perimeter in June 2023 on the grass of Mallorca, suffering a defeat from Eubanks. In July he was already in the final in Newport but lost Mannarino. As mentioned, he manages to enter the top one hundred and at the end of the year competes in the Next Gen Finalshowever losing all three Round Robin matches.
He is the author of constant growth, without particular jerks: in Newport he returns to the final and fully engages his compatriot Marcos Gironwho prevails only 7-5 in the decisive set; crosses paths in Cincinnati Sinnerwho beat him 6-4 7-5 and reached the final act in Winston-Salem but another Italian debunks itleaving him just three games: Lorenzo Sonego. In Shanghai he loses from Djokovic after two tie-breaks missing two set points to extend the match to the third quarter and in Metz he surrenders to Bonzifuture winner of the tournament, in the semifinals.
A slow but tenacious progression which takes him to position number 41 in the ranking, his highest career achievement, with concrete hopes of soon entering the top 20. His game is the most classic these days, with big serve and powerful, well-constructed fundamentals; the leap in quality is explained in tandem by Alex and Robby Ginepri, already number 15 in the ranking in 2005 and coach of the American. “Alex” – dice Robby – “he is a player with a high IQ. He has intuition and knows how to read the contingent situation on the field.
Athletic training
Its limit” – Michelsen himself continues – “it’s the athletic aspect. Until last year we didn’t even deal with fitness. It can be said that only since March this year have we had a plan in this sense. I, like all tall athletes, have to work to improve my coordination and movementsthe. The results of this commitment can already be seen because by improving the quality of the supports in the execution of the shots, their performance is superior and my trust in them grows hand in hand.”.
The obvious improvements don’t make him go to his head; Alex works to push his limits, demonstrating that he knows himself well as an athlete: “Until about two years ago I was good, but certainly not great. I wasn’t sure if I would continue playing and I was unsure whether to study for my business degree or try tennis. In the end, I chose and now I’m really happy. Travelling, playing tennis and having fun: more than that…”.
Well done; in fact there is a lot of work to do, especially when you have to reverse the exchange so as not to succumb to the pace of the pushing opponent. Alex realizes this when he meets Jannik again fifteen days after the match in Cincinnati, in New York: after having managed to equally divide the first eight games with the South Tyrolean champion, Michelsen he began to lose effectiveness with his serve and to suffer the lashes of his rival right from the return, playing catch-up for the rest of the match and scraping by only two more games as the field gradually seemed to outgrow his possibilities.
Everything is part of growth, even the most painful setbacks; he knows it well and moves forward, strengthened by his certainties. After his victorious first round match against Ramos-Vinolas at the 2023 US Open even the New York Times talks about him as one of the most interesting prospects in the world new wave Americansignaling its impetuous growth. “My parents” – dice Alex – “they were both tennis players and I started when I was three. My mother liked to exchange from the baseline while my father preferred quick tennis, serve and volley; I have taken from both and I move across the board”.
Honor your father and mother; the second round match, however, sees him lose with a periodic 6-3 to the Chilean Nicolas Jarryafter winning the first 6-4. Not bad, today Michelsen is in Jeddah, where perhaps he doesn’t start as the favourite but he is ready to make the most of his experience from the past year to make his mark on his tennis. With the same naturalness with which he, a left-hander, switched to his right hand because the grip of the lefty baseball swinghis passion before Federer’s sport, it closely resembles the two-handed right-handed backhand grip. It seems easy…
