20-year-old Alex Michelsen has established himself as one of the players to look out for following his impressive run at the Australian Open 2025. He upset 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in four sets in the first round, and followed it up with a routine win over James McCabe.
Michelsen ousted 19th seed Karen Khachanov in the third round with another straight sets victory to reach the fourth round of a Major for the first time. He will take on home favorite and eighth seed Alex de Minaur for a spot in the quarterfinals on Monday (January 20).
Michelsen has only one top 10 win in his career so far, and coincidentally, it was de Minaur who ended up being his first scalp at last year's Los Cabos Open. He beat the Aussie 6-4, 6-1, and he will look to channel the same form to one-up the World No. 8 in his own backyard.
The American has been thrust into the spotlight following his run in Melbourne. On the heels of his star-making turn, here are a few lesser-known facts about him:
#5 - Alex Michelsen almost followed in his parents' footsteps and played college tennis
Alex Michelsen's parents were avid fans of the sport and were on the tennis teams of their respective colleges. His father, Erik, represented the University of Redlands, where he was a three-time All-American, and went on to become a lawyer.
His mother played college tennis at San Diego State University. She went on to become a teacher, and has since retired from the same. She was also bestowed with the Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship in 1989.
Michelsen was on track to play college tennis at University of Georgia but instead decided to turn pro. Given his results on the ATP Tour, it was the right choice. Even before his run in Melbourne, he finished as the runner-up at three ATP 250 events, and peaked at No. 41 in the ATP rankings. He will break into the top 40 once the rankings are updated after the Australian Open comes to an end.
#4 - Alex Michelsen's favorite tournament is Wimbledon
Wimbledon is often regarded as the most prestigious Major, and Michelsen seems to agree since it is his favorite tournament. He won the doubles title at the All England Club in 2022 as a junior, and it remains one of the best moments of his career even now. He teamed up with compatriot Sebastian Gorzny to win the title by beating the French duo of Gabriel Debru and Paul Inchauspe.
Michelsen made his main draw debut at Wimbledon as a pro last year. He was on the cusp of making a winning debut as he took a two-set lead against Lloyd Harris during their opening round match. However, he couldn't get the job done and lost in five sets.
He suffered a similar fate in doubles, and bowed out in the first round. He teamed up with fellow American Marcos Giron and the two went down in straight sets to the 12th seeded duo of Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow.
#3 - Alex Michelsen is a huge pop culture fanatic
Like many others from his generation, Michelsen also shares a love for popular franchises across various mediums. When it comes to reading, the Harry Potter series is his top choice. Star Wars has remained a major force in public conscience since its debut, and the movies are among his favorites.
Family Guy continues to evoke laughs more than two decades into its run, and for that reason, it is Michelsen's favorite show. He's also a huge fan of Tom Cruise, and he is his favorite actor.
#2 - Alex Michelsen is a numismatist
Tennis isn't the only thing Michelsen is passionate about as he is also a devout numismatist, or a coin collector. He has collected various coins adding up to $10,000 thus far.
Now that he has the opportunity to travel to different countries every other week, his coin collection is going to expand significantly. This is a rather niche hobby, and one hasn't come across that many tennis players who pursue this.
#1 - Alex Michelsen's tennis idol is Gael Monfils, and he is a huge fan of Lionel Messi as well
Monfils has been a regular presence on the ATP Tour for two decades now. He has been involved in some memorable matches throughout his career, and is still going strong. He has also reached the fourth round of this year's Australian Open, and won the title in Auckland to start the new season.
Monfils's showmanship has endeared him to fans all over the world, and Michelsen is one of them. The two could potentially lock horns in the semifinals of the Australian Open if they make it that far.
Michelsen's also into basketball and plays the sport recreationally, and supports the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the young American's favorite athlete is football legend Lionel Messi.