The Next Gen players are gearing up for an exciting showdown next week. Among them, American ATP star Alex Michelsen stands out with his impressive talent. Although he hasn’t secured any titles yet, he’s a favorite among fans and fellow players alike. Starting 2024 ranked 97th, he has soared to a career-high ranking of 41, showcasing the strength of American tennis this year.

On December 17, during an appearance on The AO Show, Michelsen discussed his remarkable rise in the rankings. Following a strong post-Wimbledon performance, the 20-year-old won 13 of 19 matches during the North American summer season. Having turned pro in August last year, now he made impressive runs to the ATP finals in Newport and Winston-Salem, including clinching four wins against top-20 players this year.

When asked about rivalries among Next Gen players, Alex emphasized that they aren’t rivals just yet but will be in the future. Host Viv Christie then prompted him to share his thoughts on the current American tennis scene. Michelsen described it as a “pretty exciting time” and mentioned his close ties with top players. Growing up in Southern California, he fondly recalled hitting with Taylor Fritz as a kid. “Fritz is also SoCal so I hit with him a little bit when I was a kid. Just to be around was really cool and now he’s four in the world which is amazing,” he said.

While he gets along well with many players, Michelsen feels a special bond with his fellow Americans. He stated he’s “closer with them than anyone else.” In addition to Fritz, he named Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda, Frances Tiafoe, and Mackenzie McDonald as key figures in American tennis this year. Having played against them on the court before, the young player admired these “great” players for their determination this season.

“Our depth is very good right now as well,” he noted. “We got someone in the top five and we have very good depth. I’m like the sixth-ranked American native and I’m 42 in the World; that’s not too bad I think,” Michelsen further added. Highlighting that several of these players have broken into the Top 15 this year, with Paul at No. 12, Tiafoe at No. 18, Shelton at No. 21, and Korda at No. 22, the rise of American players seems poised for even greater strides in the 2025 season.

It’s heartwarming to see such unity among these players. They frequently interact on social media, leaving encouraging messages for one another. Recently, Shelton echoed Michelsen’s sentiments during a post-match interview with Carlos Alcaraz at the Garden Cup in NYC, praising his fellow Americans as well.

Shelton talks up the rest of the American roster

At Madison Square Garden, Ben Shelton faced a challenging question: “You made it to the final four in a Grand Slam; are you going to be able to bring a Grand Slam home to America next year?” The 22-year-old has made significant strides this year, climbing to No. 13 in August before settling at No. 21 due to recent losses. He secured a title in Houston and reached the semi-finals in Auckland and Washington, along with his stellar performance at Basel that propelled him to the Finals against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Despite his achievements, Shelton remains humble and emphasizes the collective success of American players. “I hate talking about myself so I’m going to talk about the American group that we have,” he said, highlighting the impressive seasons of Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. He noted their growth, mentioning Fritz’s run to the US Open finals and Tiafoe’s semi-final appearance.

Shelton believes they are all on an upward trajectory. “I think that we’re continuing to improve! We got some Spaniards and Italians to chase down in front of us, and…we’re coming.”

Meanwhile, Alex Michelsen is eager to make his mark at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah this year. Reflecting on his debut experience last year, he admitted, “Next Gen was a good experience even though I didn’t win a match.” Now determined to return and win at least one match, he is focused on making an impact. Going up against top players like Arthur Fils, Jakub Mensik, Joao Fonseca, and more, will Michelsen bring the heat this time around? Share your thoughts in the comments below!