Two years ago, it was impossible to think about being a professional tennis player

“Being on the tour is much more fun, I am super happy with the decision I made.” It seems unbelievable that these statements come from the current world No. 42, but sometimes life does not mark the path for you clearly. Alex Michelsen had that doubt at 18 years old: study business at university or bet everything on tennis? The American tried to pursue both paths, but his quality on the court ended up tipping the balance. Today, he is one of the most promising talents in the locker room and has once again qualified to compete in the ATP Next Gen Finals at the end of the season, where he will put the finishing touch on a 2024 filled with good news.

“Two years ago it would have been impossible to think that I would become a professional tennis player. I was always a solid player, that's true, but I was never too good, not as good as a Carlos Alcaraz or a Holger Rune, two that we all knew were going to be very good because they already were at those ages. In my case, I was a good player, but not someone great,” confesses Michelsen in ATP laying all the honesty out at once. Perhaps he didn't attract as much attention initially, but we can have few doubts about a guy who, after breaking into the top 100 at 18, has kept going to cross the top 50 barrier at 19. What is behind this improvement?

“I think gym work is as important as any other aspect, although I would say it is the most important given how tennis is evolving currently, at least in my case,” acknowledges the American, who has been working all season to grow in this aspect. “Coordination is a key factor for the success of a body like mine, tall and slim, although I still have a lot to improve,” says the man who already has three individual finals on his record, although that first professional title still eludes him.

SECOND TIME IN JEDDAH

With a 43-33 record this season, Alex has achieved results of all colors in recent months: quarterfinals in Los Cabos, Geneva, Mallorca, Washington, or Tokyo, semifinals in Metz, and finals in Newport and Winston-Salem, in addition to a third round at the Australian Open. He only has one stop left, which will take place from 18 to 22 December in Jeddah with the Next Gen ATP Finals, an event where he went unnoticed last season.

“It's a great stage, here the top eight players in the world under 20 compete, although some are even younger. It's a tough tournament, but I think I will handle it a bit better this time,” confesses the man who in 2023 lost in the group stage to Hamad Medjedovic and withdrew in the next match against Luca Van Assche. We will have to wait a few more weeks to see if Rodney Harrison's protege – who once worked with Robby Ginepri – can improve his performance in this event where he will meet Juncheng Shang, Arthur Fils, or Jakub Mensik, among others.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, “Hace dos años era imposible pensar en ser tenista profesional”