Alex Michelsen will be just days shy of his 20th birthday when he plays next month as he tries to make a run at the world’s top 50.
The 19-year-old Californian was slated to play for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, beginning last fall, but he chose to become a full-time professional instead and has since enjoyed a career-high of no. 55.
Michelsen crashed onto the ATP Tour last summer in Newport, R.I. where he reached the final, upsetting three fellow Americans along the way, including North Carolinian and two-time Winston-Salem Open champion John Isner.
The teen is slated to face compatriot Reilly Opelka in the semi-finals on Saturday with an eye on a return to the final and a trophy.
Michelsen has had a solid 2024 with a third-round showing at the Australian Open in January and racking up a maiden ATP Masters 1000 victory in Indian Wells in March. He is the youngest man from the United States to win an ATP Masters 1000 match since Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, both of whom have played in Winston.
Tournament Director Jeff Ryan believes Michelsen has a bright future.
“We love hosting guys like Alex in Winston-Salem. If you look at the current top15 guys in the world, 10 of them have played in our tournament. This event has served as a great springboard for some of our sport’s best, and Alex has a huge upside. It’s a treat for our fans to watch these young players grow and succeed,” he said.
The tournament expects to announce the full player field next week.
