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An 18-year-old Alex Michelsen will seek his first ATP title in Newport! A teenager is playing his ATP tournament in a career on the home ground, scoring notable wins and revealing his full potential. Michelsen dethroned Maxime Cressy after a thriller and ousted a four-time Newport champion John Isner 7-6, 6-4 in an hour and 41 minutes for his first ATP final.
Alex came to Newport after lifting his first Challenger crown in Chicago, cracking the top-200 and moving closer to a place in the top-100 with this week's points. The young gun will face the experienced Frenchman on Sunday's final, seeking his first ATP crown a month before turning 19!
Isner gave everything in his first notable tournament since Dallas, challenging the young gun but ending his journey in the last four. The veteran fired 20 aces and played a bit better behind the first serve. However, Michelsen served at 79% and won ten out of 15 points behind the second serve to defend all three break chances and keep the pressure on the other side.
Alex Michelsen took down John Isner in straight sets in Newport.
Isner squandered a set point in the opening set's tie break and got broken at the start of the second to seal his fate. Alex saved a break point in the encounter's first game with a drop shot winner before experiencing two more at 2-2.
Isner missed the first after netting a routine forehand, and Michelsen saved the second with a booming serve to remain on the positive side. A four-time champion denied a break point in the eighth game with a service winner, and they served well to introduce a tie break.
Michelsen landed a backhand crosscourt winner in the third point for a mini-break and claimed two points behind the initial shot to forge a 4-1 advantage. John pulled a mini-break back in the eighth point and earned a set point at 6-5.
Alex saved it with a booming serve and placed a backhand down the line winner for a set point. A teenager passed the veteran at the net with a forehand winner to clinch the breaker 8-6 and gain a boost. Isner sprayed a forehand error at the start of the second set to drop serve and push his rival closer to the finish line.
Michelsen held at 30 in game two to confirm the advantage and landed a service winner two games later for 3-1. Both players served well in the upcoming games, and the youngster served for the victory at 5-4. Alex started the game with a service winner and landed another from his volley for 30-0.
The young gun cracked an ace for three match points and hit another on the first to emerge at the top and book a place in the final.