When things go your way, sometimes they really go your way, and that’s how this year’s U.S. Open seems to be going for American Alex Michelsen, who reached his first career Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Making the run even more impressive is that the California native has advanced by winning straight sets in every match this tournament. He was also the first American through to the quarterfinals in Flushing Meadows on Sunday.
“Yes and no,” he said when asked about his success. “I’m a little bit surprised just because I feel like my run-up form wasn’t super good coming into this tournament. And I say no, because I have been working my ass off for, I don’t know how many years, playing this sport.”
While the focus on this year’s tournament has been about the American men’s chances to end the Grand Slam drought, Michelsen’s run has received far less attention than some of the other Americans in Queens this year, a fact that he is hardly bothered by.
“It’s not hurtful at all. I love being under the radar. It’s great,” he said. “But at the same time, you know, there’s a lot of guys that are younger than me that have been playing super, super well. We could say I haven’t deserved the attention, and I’m all good with it. You get what you earn.”
His victory Sunday means he’ll face Frances Tiafoe.
Wimbledon has no plans to emulate the U.S. Open’s decision to credential influencers next year, and the All England Club will confiscate ring lights and other items that could disrupt matches, according to multiple reports.
The reports come in the wake of the ongoing discourse surrounding influencers at this year’s tournament in Flushing Meadows, which hit a fever pitch last week when a chair ump had to admonish a group that was making noise in a suite, along with other videos that raised questions about behavior during the tournament.
Last year’s U.S. Open runner-up, Jannik Sinner, isn’t in Queens due to a persistent knee injury, but that isn’t keeping him from being out and about. During the second Sunday of the U.S. Open, Sinner popped up at the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix near Monza, Italy.
The knee issue forced the world No. 1 to miss the Cincinnati Open and the U.S. Open, but he did say while at the event that his knee was “fine,” Italian outlet la Repubblica reported.
