It’s time for the clash of two Californians in Newport! Alex Michelsen and Marcos Giron had teamed up for doubles in Wimbledon just a few weeks ago. Now, they will battle against each other to land their first title of the 2024 season. Who will win the contest between the number two and three seeds at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships?

Both the players have been in top form in this tournament. If Giron wins the match on Super Sunday, he’ll jump up to the 38th spot in the men’s singles ranking on Monday. On the other hand, this is Michelsen’s second final appearance in two consecutive years at this venue. The 19-year-old rising star missed it last time, now it’ll be interesting to see if he can really shine brighter this time against his 30-year-old compatriot.

Alex Michelsen vs Marcos Giron: Preview

Michelsen has had a decent campaign so far in 2024. Previously he has reached three QFs and his performance has been exceptional here in Newport. The youngster hasn’t yet dropped a set in the tournament. He thrashed Reilly Opelka with a blink of an eye in the SF by 6-2, 6-0. The young lad can be lethal on his day! Surprisingly,  Michelsen hit only 1 ace in the entire match and didn’t commit any double fault.

He won 82% of his first serve and 54% of his second serve. Michelsen converted just 5 out of his 9 breakpoints against Opelka while saving all 3. Taking a glimpse at his stats from this season, Michelsen has scored 128 aces and committed 75 double faults so far in total in the 2024 season. He has won 76% of his service games and 21% of his return games.

His opponent in the final, Marco Giron also had quite a few outstanding runs in his previous tournaments. He has reached one final, one SF, and two QFs before making this epic run in Newport. So, beating him in the mega final won’t be a cakewalk for the teenager that’s for sure! Giron has already played two three-setters in this tournament, and in the previous match, he defeated Christopher Eubanks by 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. He hit 6 aces and committed just a single double fault.

His first-serve win percentage was 82% but on the second-serve, it dropped to a worrisome 47%. Giron successfully converted 4 out of his 10 breakpoints against Eubanks, while saving 1 out 3. So far, Giron has hit 153 aces this season and has committed 42 double faults. He has won 81% of his service games and 19% of his return games.

Michelsen vs Giron: Head-to-Head

Both of these tennis stars haven’t yet played against each other on the ATP Tour. Marcos Giron witnessed a hard-fought victory against Eubanks in his previous match, but Alex Michelsen had only lost two games against Opelka. Will fatigue play a role in this epic clash of the two Californians?

Prediction: Giron to win in three sets

Well, what if we say Marcos Giron has already experienced the three setters here and he knows exactly how to seal the deal in longer matches? Giron has playied the best tennis of his career in the last few months. Although he’s currently ranked 46th, things could change quick if he wins the title on Sunday. He currently has a win-loss record of 19-18, whereas Alex Michelsen has recorded just 16-19 so far this season.

Giron, a former college tennis star at UCLA has served hard and fast in this tournament. His free-flowing game is a bliss to watch for all tennis fans. He is a solid baseliner with aggressive serves and a knack for volleys. He even has a strong forehand to put his opponents in some real trouble. On the other hand, Michelsen can be tricky to handle at times. He has a strong two-handed backhand along with an equally venomous forehand. He loves coming to the net and finishing off points.

Both players have a playstyle that works well on grass. Can Michelsen finish the match in a similar dominating style against Marcos Giron? Well, that looks pretty unlikely at the moment! The 30-year-old tennis star has already had some big wins on grass this year, and his fans will be hoping to witness his title triumph this time in Newport, which he will likely achieve in three sets, staying on the baseline.