Match Details
Fixture: Alex Michelsen vs Bu Yunchaokete
Date: 7 November 2024
Tournament: Moselle Open 2024
Round: Quarterfinals
Venue: Les Arènes, Metz, France
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
Prize Money: $579,320
Live Telecast: US - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Alex Michelsen vs Bu Yunchaokete preview
Eighth seed Alex Michelsen will take on Yunchaokete Bu in the quarterfinals of the Moselle Open on Thursday.
Michelsen is constantly improving his game on the main tour. After quarterfinal runs in Los Cabos, Geneva, and Mallorca, he secured runner-up finishes in Newport and Winston-Salem. He also reached the third round of the Australian Open, where he lost to Alexander Zverev in three sets.
The American entered Metz on the back of a second-round exit in the Paris Masters. He started his campaign by cruising past Harold Mayot and then outsmarted Richard Gasquet in the second round. Michelsen defeated the Frenchman in a grueling three-set bout, 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-6(8).
Meanwhile, Yunchaokete Bu is still finding his feet on the main tour this year. After title-winning runs in the Wuxi and Granby Challenger, he reached the semifinals in Hangzhou and Beijing this year. The Chinese also entered the US Open via the qualifiers, but couldn't get past Casper Ruud in the first round.
Bu entered Metz on the back of a first-round exit in Shanghai. He started his campaign with a solid win against Adrian Mannarino and then outmuscled Jesper De Jong in the second round. The 22-year-old defeated the Dutchman De Jong in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(1).
Alex Michelsen vs Bu Yunchaokete head-to-head
Michelsen leads the head-to-head against Bu 1-0. He defeated the Chinese most recently in the 2024 Shanghai Masters.
Alex Michelsen vs Bu Yunchaokete odds
Odds will be updated when available.
Alex Michelsen vs Bu Yunchaokete prediction
Alex Michelsen dug deep to edge past Gasquet in the last round and will feel good about making his seventh quarterfinal on tour. He won 79% of his first serve points and only dropped his serve once against the French veteran. With none of the seeded players remaining in the quarterfinals, the American will fancy his chances of lifting the title this week.
Bu, on the other hand, looks to mean business in Metz this year. The Chinese never faced a break point in the last match and is yet to drop his serve at the event. He's already humbled top 20 players such as Karen Khachanov, Lorenzo Musetti, and Andrey Rublev this year and will be eager to open his account on the main tour.
Two high-quality youngsters will battle it out for a place in the semifinals of the Moselle Open. Considering their results this year and experience on the main tour, Michelsen will be a slight favorite to come out on top. The eighth seed should be able to absorb the early pressure and provide the killer blow in the quarterfinals.
Pick: Michelsen to win in three sets.