Alex Michelsen (born August 25, 2004) is an American professional tennis player. He has a career high ATP singles ranking of world No. 69 achieved on 6 May 2024. He also has a career high ATP doubles ranking of No. 414 achieved on 14 August 2023.[1] He is currently the third youngest player in the top 100 and one of four teenagers.
Michelsen won the singles and doubles title at the 2022 Easter Bowl, becoming the first American champion in both disciplines since Donald Young in 2006.[2] He also won the 2022 Wimbledon Boys' doubles title with Sebastian Gorzny. He was committed to play college tennis at the University of Georgia, but then decided to turn pro.[3]
In July, Michelsen won his first Challenger title in Chicago, defeating Yuta Shimizu in the finals.
Later that month, he reached his first final on the ATP Tour at the 2023 Hall of Fame Open in Newport,[4] where he lost to second seed Adrian Mannarino.[5]
Michelsen turned professional two weeks later, foregoing his college eligibility[3] and in August, he made his debut at a Major when he received a wildcard into the men's singles event at the US Open.[6] He defeated Albert Ramos Viñolas in straight sets to progress to the second round where he lost to 23rd seed Nicolás Jarry.[7] As a result, he reached a new career high of No. 117 on 11 September 2023. At the same tournament, he also enters the mixed doubles competition with Robin Montgomery and reached the second round on his debut.
2024: Major third round, top 75, first top-10 win, Masters debut & first wins[edit]
He reached the third round at the 2024 Australian Open defeating wildcard James McCabe and 32nd seed Jiří Lehečka on his debut at this Major. As a result, he reached the top 75 in the singles rankings.[12]
At the 2024 Dallas Open he defeated qualifier Tennys Sandgren but lost to top seed Frances Tiafoe.[13][14] The following week at the 2024 Delray Beach Open,[15][16] he defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis in straight sets.[17][18] He lost to Dallas champion Tommy Paul in a tight match with a third set tiebreak.[19] At the next tournament, the 2024 Los Cabos Open, in the following week, he entered as an alternate and defeated another alternate player Constant Lestienne. He recorded the biggest win and first top-10 win of his career, defeating newly arrived top-10 player and the fourth seed, previous year runner-up Alex de Minaur in straight sets, losing only 5 games, to reach the quarterfinals.[20][21] He lost to eventual champion Jordan Thompson after winning the first set 6-0 and having three match points.[22] At the 2024 BNP Paribas Open he recorded his first Masters win over Jaume Munar on his debut. At the age of 19, he became the youngest American player to win a match at this level since Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe were both winners at that same age in Miami in 2017.[23][24] He lost again to fellow American, 17th seed Tommy Paul. He also made his debut at the 2024 Miami Open and recorded his first win over qualifier Lukas Klein in straight sets.