Michelsen manages Merida Aguilar 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 for maiden US Open 4th spherical
Alex Michelsen of Aliso Viejo, California, remains to be in search of his first tour-level title, having made three finals so far. With managed aggression, athleticism, and laser focus, he has reached the 4th spherical of his residence slam for the primary time.
On his predominant draw debut, Daniel Merida Aguilar from Madrid, Spain, knocked out former world #5 Andrey Rublev in 4 units within the earlier spherical. Though he was noticeably limping after the primary set, he competed effectively regardless of his restricted motion.
Michelsen, simply twenty-two, is at the moment ranked #46, having achieved a career-high rank of 30 in July of 2025. Merida, who will flip twenty-two on the finish of September, is at the moment ranked at a career-high of 39 following his first tour-level title in Umag this previous July.
Getty
This was their third tour-level assembly, having break up the earlier two. On court docket 17 with the lights already on, the match commenced at 6:38pm. Merida gained the toss and elected to obtain.
Michelsen struck two winners, together with a 121mph ace out huge, and held to 15 whereas Merida hit two excellent forehand winners and held to like to degree. The American confronted two deuce factors however held for 2-1 whereas the Spaniard opened with a double fault however hit two unbelievable backhand winners to degree.
Michelsen served and volleyed on the opening level however was handed with a backhand down the road. He confronted break level and deuce following two unforced errors however held for 3-2. Merida hit an ace up the tee and a backhand half-volley winner on recreation level for parity.
Michelsen opened the seventh along with his second ace however confronted double break level and dumped serve with a netted backhand. The Spaniard, serving with new balls, gifted his second double fault and gave again the break with two forehand errors. Michelsen maintained his focus and made 4/5 first serves, together with an ace on recreation level to degree at 4.
Merida, serving to remain within the set struck a spectacular inside-out forehand and held to 30 whereas Michelsen hit his fourth ace and held to 15 for 6-5. Merida, serving to remain within the set and pressure the breaker, hit three consecutive winners, together with a 125mph ace down the center.
Whereas Michelsen donated a double fault, Merida struck his third ace. The American led 5-3 then 6-4 and clinched the tiebreak 7-5 along with his fifth ace. It was tough to discern what was the reason for Merida discomfort whereas he repeatedly chirped at himself in addition to his field. It appeared he had acknowledged the chance earlier than him because the draw opened up because the seeds continued to fall.
He served first within the second and, with two groundstroke winners held to 30 whereas Michelsen gifted three consecutive errors, confronted deuce and break level but held to degree. Merida missed 4/5 first serves however, with three winners together with two aces, led 2-1 whereas Michelsen made 5/5 first serves and struck two consecutive backhand winners to degree.
Merida held simply to 15 for 3-2, and Michelsen did the identical. The Spaniard opened the seventh with two consecutive backhand errors and dumped serve following three consecutive unforced errors. Michelsen displayed a way of readability and goal as he navigated his opponent’s erratic play.
Though he dedicated three unforced errors and confronted double break level and deuce, he consolidated the break with a 136mph ace up the tee. Merida serving to remain within the set, gifted his fourth double fault and confronted deuce however held for 4-5 whereas Michelsen made 4/4 first serves and sealed the set at love.
Merida left the court docket following the conclusion of the second set to alter his apparel. As a slew of unforced errors flew off his racquet, he confronted three break factors and dropped serve following three extra double faults.
Michelsen held at like to consolidate the break for 2-0. Merida, serving with new balls, held to 15 along with his seventh ace whereas Michelsen opened the fourth along with his seventh ace and, with two extra winners, held simply to 15.
The Spaniard opened and closed the fifth with crisp crosscourt backhand volleys and held simply to 15 for 2-3 whereas Michelsen hit three extra winners together with his 8th ace to carry at love.
Merida hit a 120mph ace up the tee and although he confronted two deuce factors, held for 3-4 with a colossal crosscourt backhand. Michelsen opened the eighth with a surprising forehand down the road and held for 5-3 with a tremendous overhead smash. Merida, serving to remain within the match, opened with a netted backhand half-volley and conceded it with a mishit forehand.
It was an unlucky ending to a match that held a lot promise. The primary set, together with the tiebreak, was riveting. Whereas Merida was actually managing some kind of harm, he by no means known as for the coach or took a medical time-out. Regardless of the numerous dip in Merida’s degree, Michelsen competed at a supremely excessive degree, which ought to serve him effectively as he progresses for the primary time to the second week of the US Open. He completed with 6 aces, 1 double fault and gained 76% of first and 63% of second serve factors. He gained 4/16 return video games, saved 4/5 break factors, and transformed 4/7.
He’ll tackle the 27th seed Tomas Etcheverry for the primary time for a coveted spot within the remaining eight. The twenty-seven-year-old from Argentina is at the moment ranked #32, having reached a profession excessive of 25 this previous Could. He too has reached the US Open spherical of 16 for the primary time.
Trending Merchandise
