#NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen rapidly rose into the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings last season. On Tuesday at the Delray Beach Open, the 19-year-old produced more quick work with a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Michelsen saved all four break points against him in a one-hour, 11-minute win to seal a dominant debut result at the ATP 250 on home soil.
"I was really solid the entire match. I barely missed a ball from neutral," he said in his on-court interview. "My serve got better and better as the match went on and I'm super happy with the performance."
After competing at the Next Gen ATP Finals last November, Michelsen calmly handled the spotlight on the Delray Beach centre court. The pressure will only grow in his second-round match against countryman Tommy Paul, the third seed who enters the event on the heels of a Dallas title run.
A win in the pair's first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting would likely see Michelsen improve on his career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of World No. 73, which he achieved two weeks ago. In his first full season as a professional, he is currently two places off that mark.
"I definitely still can't believe I jumped from 190 [in July] to 75," he reflected. "That's crazy. I still really can't believe it. I just try to come out here and be the best I can. That's what my coaches tell me, that's what my parents tell me. I just try to do that every time I come out. That's my main focus."
Marcos Giron, who lost to Paul in a three-set Dallas final on Sunday, earned his way back into the win column with a 6-4, 7-6(5) victory against Emilio Nava earlier on Tuesday. He will next meet fourth seed Adrian Mannarino in a rematch of their Dallas semi-final.
American Nicolas Moreno De Alboran also advanced with a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory against Aleksandar Kovacevic. The 26-year-old qualifier celebrated his first tour-level win in his fourth event.
An unforgettable day in the office! 👏@AlboranNicolas secures his first ATP Tour match win after dismissing Kovacevic 6-2 7-6(3). @DelrayBeachOpen | #DBOpen pic.twitter.com/Lx8K8y8VHg
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 13, 2024
Moreno De Alboran will next meet Jordan Thompson, who knocked out seventh seed Daniel Evans 7-5, 6-0. Both seeded players in action on Tuesday were knocked out, with American Zachary Svajda also beating eighth seed Max Purcell 7-5, 6-3.
