It All Provides Up for Alex Michelsen: Up shut with the Clippers & taking up the title chase

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It All Provides Up for Alex Michelsen: Up shut with the Clippers & taking up the title chase

American takes on Sinner or Moutet in Miami fourth spherical on Tuesday

March 23, 2026

Alex Michelsen is making inroads on residence soil as soon as once more on the Miami Open offered by Itau.

The 21-year-old, whose three ATP Tour championship-match appearances to this point all got here in the US, will on Tuesday tackle Jannik Sinner or Corentin Moutet for a quarter-final spot on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Florida.

ATPTour.com caught up with Michelsen to learn the way life on the ATP Tour all provides up for the Californian, protecting subjects together with the American he considers to be his largest rival, his present largest profession objective, and the off-court ‘benefits’ of being a tennis participant.

What’s your favorite ATP Tour event to play and why? I’m going to should say Tokyo. I like Tokyo. I feel it’s the perfect metropolis on the earth and the meals is unbelievable. Every little thing on website is ideal, the persons are wonderful, the resort is nice. It was my first time in Asia final 12 months once I went, and I simply thought it was all so cool.

What’s your favorite tennis rivalry? I beloved watching the Novak and Fed rivalry. I watched that 2019 Wimbledon last once I had a damaged ankle. I sat on the sofa and watched each level of that match. That was loopy. I beloved watching these guys go into battle.

Who’s your personal biggest rival? There are guys I get pleasure from enjoying as a result of I win, however… I haven’t actually performed anybody greater than like 3 times on Tour. I must say Learner [Tien], as a result of we performed a bunch in juniors… It’s a enjoyable little rivalry. We’re very shut buddies too, so it’s at all times enjoyable to play him.

Has there been a singular or standout second in your profession to this point? After I broke High 100. I received the Challenger in Knoxville and I used to be fairly over the moon. I by no means actually was purported to be an expert tennis participant and it was similar to a second of awe. I noticed myself at No. 99 on the earth and was similar to, ‘That’s loopy’. Then successful the most important title of my life to this point on clay [in Estoril], that was fairly wonderful.

What’s the most important factor you’ve been chasing? Profitable an ATP Tour title. I’ve misplaced three finals, so I’m simply trying to get a type of beneath my belt. That might be wonderful.

How thrilling is the chase? It’s thrilling for certain. Each week you’re like, ‘Okay, possibly this week’.

Is there something you bought to do solely as a result of you’re a tennis participant? I met Russell Westbrook at a Clippers recreation [in 2024] and I sat fairly shut and watched one other Clippers recreation final 12 months when Steph [Curry] was there. That was tremendous cool, in all probability a few of the coolest issues I’ve carried out as a result of I play tennis.