Alex Michelsen describes his relationship with his fellow American players on the ATP Tour.
The 20-year-old made his breakthrough on the circuit in 2024, breaking into the world’s top 50.
Michelsen also achieved his best Grand Slam result by reaching the Australian Open third round on debut.
He is set to end the season with an appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals, an event reserved for the best players of the season aged 20 or under.
How does Alex Michelsen get on with his fellow American players on tour?
Compared to his American compatriots, Alex Michelsen is still quite new to the ATP Tour after making his debut in June 2023.
He is one of several young players from the United States that are looking to bring back the days of the country’s dominance in the men’s game.
It has been over two decades since any American man last won a Grand Slam, and Michelsen is part of this group of players that could change that, and he is enjoying getting to know them.
Describing his relationship with his fellow US players, Michelsen told the AO Show podcast: “I would say so. I am closer with them than anyone else.
“Fritz is also from So Cal, so I hit with him a little bit when I was a kid so being around him was really cool and now he’s four in the world, which is amazing. I am glad he is doing so well.
“I played doubles with Korda and Maccie [Mackenzie McDonald], those guys are great. Ben is playing great, Tommy is playing great and Frances.
“All those guys are knocking on the door for the top 10. Our depth is very good right now. I am the sixth ranking American and I am 42 in the world. I think American tennis is doing very well.”
Alex Michelsen returns to Next Gen ATP Finals in 2024
Michelsen is back at the Next Gen ATP Finals a year after competing at the 2023 event.
A year ago he lost each of his group stage matches, two of which came in final-set tie-breaks against Luca Van Assche and Hamad Medjedovic.
But following a year of progress on tour, Michelsen returns to the event with more experience under his belt and aims to improve on 2023’s results.
“I’m very happy to be back. This has been circled on my calendar pretty much the whole year,” said the American. “To be back here as the second seed is really cool. I get my own locker. I’m super pumped.
“This year I think is a little different,” he explained. “I can carry the experience I got this year into this week and all the experience I’ve gained from playing 33 weeks this year. I’m super happy to be back and hopefully I can do a little better than last year.”
