By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 2, 2025Photo credit score: Matthew Stockman/Getty
In a conflict of pleasant fireplace, Alex Michelsen performed clear first-strike tennis to take good buddy Learner Tien down.
Michelsen broke Tien in his opening service recreation of each units sparking a 6-3, 6-3 sweep in a match of proficient Californians in Toronto immediately.
The 20-year-old Michelsen, who toppled Tenth-ranked Lorenzo Musetti within the prior spherical, advance to his fifteenth profession quarterfinal and first Masters 1000 quarterfinal.
It’s a milsetone second for Michelsen, who led begin to end. Michelsen is the youngest American ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinalist since a 20-year-old Sebastian Korda made the final eight at 2021 Miami. He’s the youngest U.S. man to succeed in the Nationwide Financial institution Open quarterfinals since a 20-year-old Andy Roddick took the title 22 years in the past.
Aggressive baseline play from Michelsen mixed with some uncharacteristically sloppy shotmaking from Tien was the distinction immediately. Michelsen transformed 4 of 10 break factors in an 80 minute victory for his sixth quarterfinal of the 2025 season.
The Thirty fourth-ranked Michelsen will face Karen Khachanov for a spot within the last 4.
Khachanov cracked 29 winners in a 6-4, 7-5 victory over former US Open finalist Casper Ruud.
The Eleventh-seeded Khachanov broke 3 times in a 93-minute victory.
Khachanov beat Ruud for the primary time in three conferences and snapped an 11-match dropping streak vs. Prime 20 opponents. It was Khachanov’s first win over a Prime 20 opponent since he beat Grigor Dimitrov on the Paris Indoors final October.
The hard-hitting Khachanov has dropped only one set in three event victories.
Michelsen gained his lone prior assembly vs. Khachanov with a formidable 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-2 sweep on the Australian Open final January.
