Alex Michelsen is a young American tennis player who has become one of the most exciting names in professional tennis. He was born on August 25, 2004, which makes him just 20 years old as of right now. Michelsen comes from Laguna Hills, California, and he started playing tennis when he was only 3 years old. His family has always been very supportive of his tennis dreams, and he has worked hard to become a professional player on the world stage.
The tennis world has been watching this talented young American make his way up the professional ranks. Michelsen turned professional in 2023, which means he has only been playing professional tennis for about 3 years. In a very short amount of time, he has already done some amazing things on the tennis court and has earned the respect of fans and other players around the world.
Who Is Alex Michelsen?
Alex Michelsen is an American professional tennis player who plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand. He currently ranks around 35th in the world, according to ATP Tour. His career-high ranking was number 30, which he reached in July 2025. Michelsen is 6 feet 4 inches tall (1.93 meters) and weighs about 175 pounds (79 kilograms). These measurements make him a fairly large tennis player, which gives him good advantages on the court when he is serving and hitting powerful shots.
According to Wikipedia, Michelsen has earned a total of $1.7 million during his professional tennis career so far. His career record as of now stands at 66 wins and 65 losses in singles matches. This shows that he has been competitive at the professional level and has won just as many matches as he has lost. In doubles, he has a record of 14 wins and 16 losses, which shows that he plays both singles and doubles matches on the professional tennis tour.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Michelsen grew up in California and came from a tennis family. His mother, Sondra Michelsen, was a college tennis player at San Diego State University, and she taught him how to play tennis. Michelsen has said that his mother was the main reason he wanted to become a professional tennis player. He played with her almost every day until he was about 15 or 16 years old. His father also had connections to tennis, having played college tennis as well.
As a junior player, Michelsen achieved great success before turning professional. He won the Wimbledon Boys’ Doubles title in 2022 with his partner Sebastian Gorzny. At that same tournament, Michelsen said holding a Wimbledon trophy meant the world to him. He also won the Easter Bowl singles and doubles titles in 2022. During his junior years, Michelsen won the 2022 Australian Open Boys’ Doubles as the runner-up when he played with Paraguayan player Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.
According to Essential Sports, Michelsen was originally committed to the University of Georgia as a college tennis player. However, in a big decision, he decided to turn professional instead of attending college. He has explained that this was not an easy choice to make because of the amazing opportunity that was waiting for him at the University of Georgia. He said that he has never been a big school guy, which is why he decided to skip college and chase his professional dreams right away.
Starting His Professional Career
Michelsen turned professional in 2023, and his professional journey began at the Mallorca Championships, according to Essentially Sports. He made his ATP debut at this tournament but lost to Christopher Eubanks in the first round. Later that year, in August 2023, he received a wildcard entry to the US Open, which was his first time playing in a Grand Slam tournament at the main draw level.
According to Hall of Fame Open, Michelsen had a breakthrough moment in 2023 when he reached his first ATP Tour final at the Newport tournament. This was only his second ATP Tour event ever, which made it even more special. He was just 19 years old at the time. Although he lost the final to Marcos Giron, reaching the final so early in his career was a huge achievement. He almost won that final, and he even saved match point during the match, which showed his fighting spirit and mental strength.
According to Hall of Fame Open, Michelsen returned to Newport in 2024 and reached the final again. This time, he faced Marcos Giron once more. The match was very close and exciting, but Giron won 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5. This was Giron’s first-ever ATP Tour title. Even though Michelsen did not win the championship, reaching two finals in two years showed that he was becoming a stronger competitor and learning how to play at the highest level.
His Biggest Win and 2025 Breakthrough
The biggest moment of Michelsen’s career came at the 2025 Australian Open in Melbourne. According to USTA SoCal, Michelsen achieved the biggest win of his career when he defeated No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round. This was amazing because Tsitsipas is a former Australian Open finalist who had reached the final of the tournament in 2023. Michelsen played with a very aggressive game plan and it worked perfectly. He hit 46 winners in that match, which showed how well he was playing.
After beating Tsitsipas, Michelsen continued his great play at the Australian Open. According to LA Times, he then defeated No. 19 seed Karen Khachanov in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2. This was his second win in one week over a top-20 player. Michelsen said after that match, “I played unbelievable most of that match. I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve never hit my forehand that well.” These victories put him into the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time ever in his career.
According to LA Times, Michelsen became the second-youngest American male player to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open since Andy Roddick in 2003. This is a very special honor in American tennis history. In the fourth round, he faced Alex de Minaur, who is a top-10 player from Australia. Even though Michelsen lost that match 6-0, 7-6(5), 6-3, he was happy with how he fought and competed. He said that he was “super happy” to reach the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career.
Height, Weight, and Physical Abilities
Michelsen is a tall and strong tennis player. According to Roland Garros, he is 6 feet 4 inches tall (193 centimeters) and weighs 175 pounds (79 kilograms). His height gives him a big advantage when serving because he can hit the ball from a higher point. His physical strength helps him hit powerful forehand shots and serves that are very hard for his opponents to handle.
Playing at his size means that Michelsen needs to work on his fitness and movement around the court. Being a bigger player sometimes makes it harder to move quickly from side to side, but Michelsen has shown that he can move well and cover the court effectively. His athletic ability combined with his size makes him a powerful player who can hit winners from almost anywhere on the court.
Career Ranking and Current Position
According to Tennis Stats, Michelsen’s current ATP ranking is around 35, as of October 2025. His career-high ranking was number 30, which he reached in May 2025. During 2024, his ranking improved very quickly. He started the year ranked around 75 and finished the year at number 44. In 2025, he continued to climb the rankings and reached as high as number 32 in May.
According to Wikipedia, his career-high points total is 1,655 points, which he earned in August 2025. His career earnings so far are $1.7 million, which shows that he is earning good money from prize money at tournaments. As he continues to play at higher levels and win more matches, his ranking will likely continue to improve in the future.
His Coaching and Support Team
Michelsen has had several coaches who have helped him develop his game. According to Essentially Sports, Jay Leavitt is his primary coach as of 2025. Leavitt started working with Michelsen at the 2024 US Open and has helped him improve his game. Before that, Michelsen worked with coaches including Robby Ginepri, who was a former US Open semifinalist, and Eric Diaz.
According to Essentially Sports, Michelsen studied with coaches while living in New York. The city helped him get closer to the USA’s biggest tennis community and gave him access to the best training facilities in America. This shows that he is dedicated to improving his tennis skills and working with top coaches and training partners.
His Girlfriend and Personal Life
Michelsen is in a relationship with Caroline Girard, who is also called “Carolina” in some sources. According to Essentially Sports, Caroline Girard is a finance major at Southern Methodist University (SMU). She has been spotted cheering for Michelsen from the player’s box at tournaments. During the 2025 Australian Open, she was with him in Melbourne to support him during his great tournament run.
Michelsen has spoken about how much having Caroline’s support means to him. According to Essentially Sports, he has said, “I like being alone, but it’s so much better to have her company with me.” This shows that having his girlfriend with him at tournaments gives him extra support and makes him feel better. Caroline has become an important part of Michelsen’s life and tennis journey. She was also with him at the Auckland tournament in New Zealand just before the Australian Open.
What Makes Michelsen Special as a Player
Michelsen has a very aggressive playing style that sets him apart from other young players. When he plays well, he hits a lot of winners and puts pressure on his opponents with his powerful shots. His forehand is one of his strongest shots, and he can hit it from both deep in the court and from closer to the net. His ability to hit winners on important points shows his mental strength and confidence.
During his match against Tsitsipas at the Australian Open, Michelsen showed that he could execute a game plan very well. He came onto the court with a specific plan for how to play, and it worked perfectly. This shows that he is not just a player who relies on hitting hard all the time. Instead, he can think about tennis and make smart decisions about when to attack and when to be patient.
Looking Forward to 2026
According to Tennis Connected, Michelsen has already been invited to return to the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston in March 2026. The tournament director said that Michelsen and his fellow American Learner Tien are “two of the next generation of American tennis stars” with “great careers ahead of them.” This shows that tennis experts believe Michelsen will continue to improve and have success in the future.
According to Best of Three Productions, tennis experts are discussing Michelsen as one of the young players who could shape the future of men’s tennis. They say that he has “big kid, bigger ceiling,” which means that he is already a strong player but has the potential to become even better. Experts believe that as he continues to develop his game and gain experience, he could become a top player in the world in the coming years.
Achievements and Records to Remember
Michelsen has already achieved several important things in his short career. He has won 5 titles at ATP Challenger level and ITF tournaments. His biggest ATP Tour accomplishments include reaching three ATP finals, including at Newport in 2023 and 2024. He has won matches against top players like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen Khachanov, and Alex de Minaur (at the 2024 Los Cabos Open).
According to Wikipedia, Michelsen holds a record of 2 wins and 7 losses against players who were ranked in the top 10 at the time he played them. He defeated Alex de Minaur when de Minaur was ranked No. 9, and he also beat Lorenzo Musetti when Musetti was ranked No. 10. These wins show that Michelsen can compete with and beat the world’s best players when he is playing well.
His Future in Professional Tennis
As Michelsen continues his professional career, many people believe he could become one of America’s best tennis players. He has shown that he can play well at Grand Slam tournaments, reach ATP finals, and defeat top-10 players. With his size, power, and aggressive style of play, he has many weapons that can help him succeed at the highest levels of tennis.
According to Last Word on Sports, American men’s tennis is at its best in decades, with 15 American players finishing 2025 ranked in the top 100. Michelsen is one of these players and is part of an exciting group of young Americans who are improving the strength of American men’s tennis. As he continues to play more matches, gain more experience, and improve his game, he could become one of the top American tennis players in the world in the next few years. With his girlfriend’s support, a good coaching team, and his own determination, Michelsen has a very bright future ahead of him in professional tennis.
