Alex Michelsen is all set to embrace the opportunity of a lifetime at Melbourne Park. The American is preparing for his first-ever match at the iconic Rod Laver Arena under the night lights. The 20-year-old American rising star will face home favorite and eighth seed Alex de Minaur in the fourth round at the Australian Open. Amid the glorious opportunity ahead of him, the young talent couldn’t stop himself from sharing his excitement with fans on social media.

Alex Michelsen, ahead of his much-awaited match, shared Adidas Tennis’s post on his IG story which read “New Week. Same goal.”. Alex added, “Next sesh RLA”, showing his excitement for the venue. Meanwhile, Michelsen took a break from his preparation to enjoy a fun basketball session at TOPCOURT in Melbourne Park. This highlighted the lighter side of his personality, even when he remains competitive. “I’m the most competitive person that I know. I just compete in everything,” he shared. “I just got snipped in HORSE by someone that works at the Australian Open. I play video games and I lose, I get mad. I play tennis matches. I don’t like losing, it’s just in my blood.”

The young star’s journey at this year’s Australian Open has been remarkable. His previous-best performance at a Grand Slam came last year when he reached the third round at Melbourne. This year, he has surpassed it by defeating some of the biggest names in the draw, including 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, James McCabe, and 19th seed Karen Khachanov. Reflecting on his run, Alex shared his delight at how much he’s enjoying his tennis right now. “It’s probably the most fun I’ve had, just because I’m winning a lot, and winning is fun for me. So I’m having lots, that’s the answer. Lots of fun.”

Off the court, the ATP star seems affectionate. After his victory over Khachanov, he made time to connect with his mother, even though the schedule has been hectic. “I called mom for like 15 minutes in the locker room after the match,” Michelsen said. “She was pumped.”

Adding to the emerging star’s joy, this tournament also recorded the success of his close friend Learner Tien, another Californian who has also made it to the second week of the Australian Open. Tien’s impressive victories over Camilo Ugo Carabelli, fifth seed Daniil Medvedev, and Corentin Moutet have inspired Michelsen. “It’s awesome. [He is] one of my best friends. We train together every single day,” Michelsen said. “Incredible to have someone like him doing what he’s doing. I saw he’s up to 80 in the live rankings. He’s going to break Top 100, which is unreal. Super stoked for him.”

As Michelsen steps onto the court at Rod Laver Arena, he carries not just his competitive fire but also the momentum of an exceptional tournament run. Some even believe that Alex can stop the ‘Demon’.

Alex De Minaur braces for high-stakes showdown against Alex Michelsen

Alex de Minaur is gearing up for a crucial clash against the American, Alex Michelsen at the Australian Open. The match, set for Monday night at Rod Laver Arena, has the Australian crowd rallying behind their last hope in the singles draw. With support higher than ever, de Minaur aims to take forward the legacy of Mark Edmondson, the last Aussie male, to win the Australian Open in 1976.

Eighth seed de Minaur enters the match as the favorite but remains cautious. Michelsen, ranked No. 42, has displayed fearlessness and powerful groundstrokes throughout the tournament. The duo faced off twice last year, splitting victories. Michelsen claimed a dominant win on hard courts in Los Cabos, but de Minaur struck back with a stunning performance on clay at Roland Garros.

Slovakian great Daniela Hantuchova offered advice to de Minaur, urging him to approach the match with a first-round mindset. “Don’t get carried away with expectations,” she said, emphasizing the importance of using the crowd to his advantage.

Aussie legend Pat Rafter also highlighted Michelsen’s potential to fight. “This guy’s got a really big game. If he can keep it together, he can cause destruction,” Rafter said.

De Minaur, aware of the challenge, expressed readiness for a tough battle. “He’s dangerous and playing with a lot of confidence. I’m ready for a fight,” he said, planning to use his speed and consistency to counter Michelsen’s aggression.