Matching Report
#NextGenATP Michelsen advances to Tokyo QFs
The American is next up against Machac
September 28, 2024
PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images
Michelsen is currently sitting in second place in the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah.
Written by Krishna Gowda
Will #NextGenATP superstar Alex Michelsen add the first title to his successful season on the ATP Tour?
The 20-year-old cruised past Christopher O’Connell 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals of the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.
The match, which attempted to upset fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round, hit 23 winners to dismantle O’Connell in one hour and 19 minutes. The number 49 player in the PIF ATP Rankings also saved three break points to advance to the second ATP 500 quarter-final of the season (Washington).
“The quality of these games was good, I find my rhythm here. I feel like I was attacking really well, coming to the net a lot, especially today,” said Michelsen in his post-match interview, “I felt like I worked really well and won a lot of points in that and that’s it. I’ve been working, so I’m really happy about that.
“I still have a few more tournaments to play this year. I feel really happy to be honest, [I’m] we will finish the year strong.”
Strength 💯
Alex Michelsen is in his 8th ATP QF following a 6-1 6-4 win over O’Connell in Tokyo!@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/zr3ZPfPvgJ
– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 28, 2024
Michelsen’s success this season was highlighted by reaching the finals in Newport and Winston-Salem, which placed him second in the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah. The American will next face Tomas Machac, who defeated Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head.
The Czech came back from 0-3 down in the decision to close out the match in two hours, 35 minutes. He hit 33 winners, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to advance to his sixth ATP Tour final this season.
“You never know, but in these situations when you face this type of player, it’s hard to believe when you lose in the first set and at the beginning of the second,” said Machac after the match. “I just started playing a lot better in the second set than the first set, it was unbelievable for me.
“I just tried to fight for every ball and I just tried to hope to win.”
Paul, who was the highest ranked player remaining in the draw, suffered a major blow to his hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. The American currently sits in 11th place in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, with 520 points lying in eighth place.
