In 1991, an all-American lineup was witnessed in Orlando during the Prudential-Bache Securities Classic. Back then, the eight-time Slam champion Andre Agassi emerged as the last man standing, defeating compatriot Derrick Rostagno in the final. 34 years down the road, the time has come full circle once again, with the American flag flying high in Houston. Thanks to rising talent Alex Michelsen‘s victory in the R16 battle of the ongoing US Men’s Clay Court Championships, an all-American Yahtzee is all but confirmed. It took over three decades to witness this phenomenon, but one thing is certain now: an American winner will lift the trophy this weekend in Houston.

Fifth-seed Michelsen won his R16 encounter on Thursday against Adrian Mannarino. The World No.34 beat the Frenchman with a score line of 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 to seal his place in the last eight. With that, he also made sure that all the remaining quarterfinalists in Houston are Americans. Before Michelsen, Frances Tiafoe, Jenson Brooksby, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Tommy Paul, Colton Smith, Chris Eubanks, and Brandon Nakashima already secured their positions in the QF phase, winning their respective R16 clashes.

Michelsen’s victory was initially looking doubtful when his opponent clinched the first set. But the 20-year-old came back strongly. He won back-to-back sets to ensure a rare three-decade-old phenomenon would be repeated in Houston.

In the on-court interview, Michelsen shared his sentiments on American men performing consistently across many events lately. “Yeah, it’s sick. I mean, we have you know, a lot of great guys in the top hundred right now. Probably have like what? 12, 13 guys. So, American tennis is super strong.”

Making a prediction for American men’s tennis going forward, he added, “Uh hopefully all of us will win a slam eventually. That’s been a long time, but you know, at least we got eight of us in a 250, right?” Back in 2003, Andy Roddick was the last US American man to win a Major title. He beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final with a score line of 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.

Coming back to the American showdown in Houston, it’s akin to how the US men shined back in 1991’s ATP event in Orlando. In that year, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Brad Gilbert, MaliVai Washington, Derrick Rostagno, Jimmy Arias, Chuck Adams and David Pate made it to the quarterfinal stage.

Fun fact: Four years after Orlando, seven American men also successfully entered the last eight of an ATP tournament. In the 1995 Sybase Open in San Jose, Agassi, Washington, Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Grabb, Bryan Shelton, and Brian MacPhie entered the round of eight. The only non-US entrant in that list was Canada’s Greg Rusedski.

While the fans must be excited for an all-American quarterfinal battle in Houston, Alex Michelsen is feeling no different.

Alex Michelsen reacts to American men dominating ATP Houston

Alex Michelsen is the youngest American quarterfinalist among his compatriots at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships. Last time, it was a 20-year-old Taylor Fritz in the 2018 edition. During the post-match interview, Michelsen expressed his happiness about the fact that all quarterfinalists in Houston are American this week, recreating the nostalgic moment from 1991 in Orlando.

Michelsen said, “I hadn’t given it any thought. But it was a happy fact I was told about out there, that there’s a guaranteed American champion. It’s great for American tennis. It’s going to be a fun three days,” as reported the Houston Chronicle on April 3.

The American men have emerged victorious in the last three editions in Houston. After getting suspended due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, the tournament was held in 2022. Three years ago, Reilly Opelka lifted the winner’s trophy. He beat compatriot John Isner in the final clash. A year later, Frances Tiafoe won the event with a score line of 7-6(1), 7-6(6) against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Last season, it was Ben Shelton who broke Tiafoe’s dream to win a second straight trophy in Houston. Shelton outperformed his compatriot with a score line of 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Who do you think will lift the trophy this weekend? Will it be Tiafoe with his second triumph at the event? Or a new American ATP star will clinch the title on the clay court? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.