Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – In an electrifying match on Thursday, Alex Michelsen served up some sweet revenge to secure his spot in the semi-finals of the NextGen ATP Finals. The American defeated Luca Van Assche in a thrilling four-set match, finishing with a score of 1-4, 4-2, 4-3 (6), 4-3 (5).
Michelsen, who became the youngest American to finish a season inside the Top 50 since Andy Roddick in 2002, showcased his resilience and competitive spirit. Last year, Michelsen went 0-3 in his Jeddah debut, but this year he has turned things around, moving to 2-0 in the Red Group after also defeating Nishesh Basavareddy.
Van Assche, ranked No. 128 in the PIF ATP Rankings, started strong and even had three set points in the third-set tie-break. However, Michelsen reeled off five consecutive points from 3/6 down to surge ahead and clinch the victory.
Reflecting on his performance, Michelsen said, “If you would have told me 12 months ago that I would be in the semi-finals this year, I would have been a very happy man. I played really well today and I am super happy to get through.”
The victory sets up a winner-takes-all clash between Van Assche and Basavareddy on Friday, with both players vying for a spot in the semi-finals.
Michelsen’s journey to the semi-finals is a testament to his hard work and determination. As he awaits his next opponent, fans and analysts alike are eager to see if he can continue his impressive run and potentially lift the trophy.
Alex Michelsen in 2024
Currently ranked no.41 (career-high), Michelsen played his last match on the 19th of December when he overcame world no.128 Luca Van Assche 1-4 4-2 4-3(6) 4-3(5) in the round robin in the Next Gen ATP Finals (draw).
This year Alex achieved a compiled 44-33 win-loss record. Alex Michelsen’s most significant performance of this year was reaching the final in Newport and Salem.