Michelsen promises a battle against Alcaraz: "The faster the court, the better for me"

Alex Michelsen can be very proud of the season he has had and aims to achieve an important milestone to round off his year. Currently ranked 35th in the world, this young American, 22 years old, wants to close the gap with the best and already knows what it is like to face Carlos Alcaraz. He talked about the Spaniard before their match in the ATP Masters 1000 Paris 2026.

He exudes enthusiasm and a desire to prove to himself that he can reach the highest level. Alex Michelsen has been a standout this season, showing a substantial improvement in his tennis and demonstrating that he aspires to high levels of success in the future. He faced Carlos Alcaraz a few weeks ago in Tokyo and will do so again now at the ATP Masters 1000 Paris 2026, where he is not giving up on seeking a surprise that would cause a stir in the tournament.

This is how Alex Michelsen spoke about his matchup with Alcaraz at the Masters 1000 in Paris

Speed of the court at the Paris tournament

"I think this year the court is clearly faster than last year. Last year it seemed even slower than that of Rome, and that is already complicated. This time I think they have sped it up a bit. I’m sure many people will complain."

"The ball bounces quite low, and with the serve you can get some free points. You also don’t need to force too much to find a winning shot. It’s a kind of tug-of-war. You can’t risk too much because you’ll end up making errors, but you also can’t play it safe because he will come at you."

Michelsen points to improvements in his game throughout 2026

"I would say that my serve has improved a lot this year. I place the ball much better and I am consistently getting over 65% first serves in matches."

"My forehand has also improved. Those have always been the two shots that have failed me the most under pressure. Of course, everyone ends up missing some serves or forehands, but it’s about improving gradually, that one percent here and another there."

"Additionally, I would highlight my mobility. I’ve worked a lot in the gym to be as well-prepared physically as possible. I started a bit late with all the gym work and physical preparation, but I’m trying to make up for lost time."

How he has arrived physically and mentally at the end of the season

"It has been a very long season, but I feel fresher than in the last two years when I arrived in Paris. There are many positive things, and next week I will be in Stockholm, no matter what happens here."

"There’s no other place I’d rather be. I know I won’t play tennis forever. We can all complain that the season is long, and it is, but in the end, it’s us who choose to play. Also, our time in this sport is limited, so we have to enjoy it while we can."

What Michelsen learned from his presence in the US Open quarter-finals

"It was tough. Looking back now, I think I should have taken a bit more time off. I only stopped for four days because I felt I needed to do something different and that I would go crazy if I stayed at home doing nothing. So I started training again, although it probably would have been better to rest a little longer."

"To be completely honest, that match will haunt me for the rest of my life. I should have made it to the semifinals, but sometimes these things happen. The spotlight got to me a bit, although I am not going to do anything other than learn from that experience."

"I’m left, above all, with the certainty that I have the level needed to be in that situation again. If I ever reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam, I will probably stop thinking about that match. Until then, I will keep reflecting on it."

What he thinks of Carlos Alcaraz

"Now that I have been able to see his level up close, I think his best version is incredible. I’ve played against many tennis players, but what he can do with his hands especially caught my attention."

"He executes drop shots in situations where no other player would even think of attempting them, and he does it extraordinarily. He also has incredible skill near the net."

"Moreover, he is explosive. I hit some balls thinking they would bounce twice and suddenly I looked and he was right next to me. I have to get used to that kind of situation and be prepared for it tomorrow."

"I hope the court is a bit faster. The central court in Tokyo was incredibly slow, so the faster it is here, the better for me."

"I am very motivated to take him on. Besides, I have nothing to lose. Lately, I have been losing to players of an extremely high level, and it is a fantastic experience to face players who are at the top of the circuit."

"I am confident that I will reach that level one day, but to achieve that I have to start beating them at some point. We’ll see what I can do tomorrow."

Alex Michelsen will not be an easy opponent for Carlos Alcaraz in his debut at this ATP Masters 1000 Paris 2026, both for his skills and his competitive attitude. The Murcian would do well to step onto the court filled with concentration and intensity if he wants to avoid problems against a player who, on inspired days, is very dangerous.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Michelsen promete batalla ante Alcaraz: "Cuanto más rápida es la pista, mejor para mí"