Alex Michelsen has shared the unusual advice he received from Jannik Sinner when they met in the locker room.
The world No. 41 enjoyed his first full season on the ATP Tour this year, reaching a career-high ranking and making his Masters 1000 debut.
It was at one of those tournaments, the Cincinnati Open, where Michelsen faced Sinner. And the world No. 1 had to tell him to stop saying sorry when they met after the match.
Aged just 20, Michelsen is one of the tour’s promising young talents. The American has qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals for the second successive year.
This time, he’ll head to the tournament with more experience after getting a taste of life on the pro circuit. In 2024, Michelsen cracked the top 50, reached two tour-level singles finals and got to face some of the world’s best players, including Sinner.
The two-time Grand Slam champion defeated the youngster both times they played in Cincinnati and at the US Open. But the world No. 41 says Sinner taught him a valuable lesson after their first meeting.
“I have played Sinner twice now. I went close to him in Cincy, and at the US Open, he absolutely waxed me,” Michelsen told the ATP.
