Michelsen ends Opelka's run, returns to Newport final

One year after his breakthrough run to the 2023 Infosys Hall of Fame Open final, #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen is back in the Newport championship round. The 19-year-old won eight straight games to defeat countryman Reilly Opelka 6-2, 6-0 on Saturday, improving to 7-1 at the grass-court ATP 250 on home soil.

Michelsen is the youngest player to make consecutive finals at the same tour-level event since Carlos Alcaraz achieved the feat in Umag in 2021 and 2022.

After fighting off three early break points in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Opelka, Michelsen dominated from midway through the opening set. He converted on five of nine break points and won 64 per cent of second-serve return points, as Opelka made just half of his first serves, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

"I honestly didn't miss a return when I touched the ball," Michelsen said in his on-court interview. "Probably the best returning day of my life, maybe besides last year against John [Isner] in the semis. I did it again in the semis here, so super happy with that."

Alex Michelsen is finals bound💪💥

Michelsen takes down Opelka 6-2 6-0 🇺🇸
⁰@TennisHalloFame | #InfosysHallOfFameOpen pic.twitter.com/U06TUA7UEe

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 20, 2024

By defending his PIF ATP Rankings points as a returning finalist, Michelsen has held steady at No. 61 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week.

"I'm usually kind of a nerd, I always look at the rankings and the live rankings," Michelsen said. "But this week I was like, 'I don't even want to know, don't tell me.' Because I knew I was going to lose a lot of points if I lost first round and dropped a lot. I just didn't think about it at all and it's served me well."

He could rise to a career-high of World No. 54 if he beats second seed Marcos Giron in Sunday's final. The American lost to Adrian Mannarino in last year's final, but says he has both more expectations and more experience entering this year's title match.

Regardless of the result in the final, Michelsen's run this week has already lifted him to second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, behind Hamburg finalist Arthur Fils.

Opelka was making his first tour-level appearance in nearly two years after hip and wrist surgeries. At No. 1,188 in the PIF ATP Rankings, the wild card was seeking to become the lowest-ranked finalist since the ATP Tour was established in 1990.

Giron booked his place in the final with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory against fourth seed Christopher Eubanks. The Newport debutant is through to his third ATP Tour final and his first on grass. He will play for his first tour-level final on Sunday.

"It''s amazing to get to the final here," said Giron. "My first time competing here, I didn't know what to expect. I've been playing well on grass and so I'm really happy."

The 30-year-old, who battled back from 0-3 down in the third set against Benoit Paire in his opening match, is set for a new career high in the next edition of the PIF ATP Rankings. Already up five places to No. 41 this week in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, he could move to No. 38 by winning the Newport crown.

"Hopefully I can get the trophy. It's going to be tough. Michelsen's a great player," Giron added ahead of the title match against his friend and frequent practice partner. "He made the final here last year. He's been routining guys here, so he's definitely in form."

Eubanks was seeking his second tour-level final, following his breakthrough title on the Mallorca grass last year. A win against Giron would have moved him back in to the Top 100, after he dropped out for the first time since March 2023 on Monday.