Michelsen: Confidence 'at an all-time high' ahead of Sinner rematch

Last year Alex Michelsen sat in Learner Tien’s players’ box when his fellow #NextGenATP American played Frances Tiafoe in the first round of the US Open inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was a memorable experience for the Californian.

“The court is absolutely sick, probably the best court in the world,” Michelsen told ATPTour.com. “There is no tennis stadium that's bigger. I was just kind of looking up and looking at all those people. I was like, ‘Wow, that's pretty cool’. Obviously, in the back of my head, I was like, ‘I want to play here’.”

The 20-year-old will get his wish Thursday afternoon. Michelsen will face Jannik Sinner, the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, in the second round at Flushing Meadows inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It will be a rematch of the pair’s recent Lexus ATP Head2Head showdown at the Cincinnati Open, where Sinner triumphed 6-4, 7-5 and eventually lifted the trophy.

“It was good. I feel like I had a lot of chances. I had eight break points I didn't get. And I feel like… that would be a little bit of a confidence booster for me, knowing that I had all these opportunities, and we're just going to see how it goes,” Michelsen said. “I'm going to go out there and I'm going to compete my hardest.

“I'm going to be the underdog and I love being the underdog, so it'll be fun either way.”

Watch Sinner vs. Michelsen Highlights:

The American was especially proud of how he served out of difficult situations against the Italian in the match. Ultimately Sinner broke through in both sets, but was only able to earn two service breaks in the match. Michelsen actually had more break points, eight to five.

Even so, the home favourite was impressed with his opponent in their first clash.

“The way he slides open-stanced into his backhand is probably one of the sickest things I've ever seen. He's such a good athlete,” Michelsen said. “You watch it on TV, but then, most guys would slice that ball and he's hitting a sliding, open-stanced backhand line winner. I'm like, ‘Wow, that's pretty damn good’. So yeah, for me, that was the most surprising thing.”

Michelsen has a new member of his team: Robby Ginepri, who won three ATP Tour titles, reached the semi-finals of the 2005 US Open and made the fourth round at four more majors. The former World No. 15 joined Jay Leavitt on Michelsen's coaching staff.

“It's good. He definitely knows his way around. He definitely knows how to make second week of a Slam and for me, that's big,” Michelsen said. “I still have my coach, Jay [Leavitt], who I've been working with the last three years. But having Robby there, it's been so far, so good. It's still pretty new, but so far, so good.

“I kind of told him I didn't really know who he was. I knew the name, but I didn't know how he played and I kind of started watching YouTube videos and thought, ‘Wow, this guy was good’. He [reached the semi-finals] here. Obviously, the guy knows what he's talking about.”

One of the biggest lessons early on in their partnership has been the need for Michelsen to play more offensively.

“I feel like that’s the next level for my game and I think for me, that's one of the biggest takeaways so far,” Michelsen said. “I definitely knew that. I'm 6’4”, 6’5”. I need to be playing as much offence as I can. I definitely knew that. But having that influence just kind of pushed me. It definitely, definitely helps.”

The 20-year-old, who is at a career-high No. 49 in the PIF ATP Rankings, has also enjoyed recent doubles success. Michelsen partnered Mackenzie McDonald to the final in Cincinnati.

“It helps a lot. I mean, even last week [in Winston-Salem], when I came into the net in singles, I felt very, very confident in my volleys,” Michelsen said. “I think having those serve reps in big moments, and those volley reps in big moments over in Cincinnati has really helped my singles.”

His singles success certainly has not hurt. Michelsen made finals in Newport and Winston-Salem. The American has earned 24 of his 31 tour-level wins this year.

“I've won a tonne of matches in the States this year I feel like and the confidence is definitely for me at an all-time high,” Michelsen said. “I’m at a career-high ranking, playing my home Slam, through to the second round. So, yeah, feeling good, feeling good.”

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