Alex Michelsen on Quality Time with Agassi, Facing Sinner and Finding His Own Path

Alex Michelsen, the youngest player remaining in this year’s Almaty Open draw, has stormed into the quarterfinals behind two impressive victories. We caught up with the 21-year-old Southern California native after his 6-3, 6-2 victory over Aleksandar Vukic on Thursday to talk about his new coaching arrangement, his 2025 Laver Cup experience, and what it’s like to be competing with Sinner and Alcaraz on tour.
 
Q: Nice win today.  You are playing great out there. What are your thoughts on playing in Almaty?
 
Alex Michelsen: Pretty cool place. I got here Monday night because I was in the Shanghai doubles final, so I haven't really got out to explore anything. But the site is really nice, and the hotel is like a movie. So, yeah, all good here.
 
Q: The new coaching relationship with Kristof Vliegen is a trial. But just out of curiosity, what kind of things are you looking for in a coach at this point, and for you personally, do you enjoy having a fresh set of eyes looking at your game?
 
Alex Michelsen: I've known Kristof for a little bit because he's coached Tallon Griekspoor for many years, and we practice a bunch, so he kind of knew my game a little bit. We've talked about it a lot, and he seems like he understands my game. And in the matches, he's giving me good energy and good coaching. So, you know, what else can you ask for?
 
Q: What is the short term plan, just to run it until the end of the season?
 
Alex Michelsen: Exactly. And then we'll see, we’ll have some chats.
 
Q: You had a great Laver Cup. That must have been an amazing experience. Can you just tell me a little bit about what you pull from being in an event like that and being around people like you were around.
 
Alex Michelsen: Yeah, it was really special. Something I honestly never thought I'd be able to do, and something I grew up watching as a kid. So being able to get out there with the fresh set of coaches, Andre [Agassi] and Pat [Rafter], that was a really great time. And to be with all my peers as well, I feel like I'm a good team player. I only contributed two points, but I feel like I was a good team player from the bench, and gave good support. It was just, overall, a great time.
 
Q: What was it like being with Andre Agassi specifically, that's got to be a pretty unique experience, having his ear and getting that back and forth with him for a weekend.
 
Alex Michelsen: You know, he's got a one-of-a-kind tennis mind. He really sees the game differently than the rest of us, that's for sure. You have to really, really focus and pay attention when he's speaking, because A: it's Andre, and B: there's a lot [of information]. So you really have to focus. And he's got only good things to say as well. He's so knowledgeable, and he's been in so many situations, good and bad. It's really great to be able to learn from someone like that.
 
Q: Maybe you won't get the benefits of that weekend right away, but do you think it's something that'll make you a better player in the upcoming weeks and months and years even?
 
Alex Michelsen: For sure. Getting that experience, being around two legends like Andre and Pat is only going to pay dividends as my career goes on, totally agree with you there.
 
Q: And your thoughts on facing the two-headed monster at the top of the men's game, Carlitos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. What has it meant for you to be able to face those guys, and what do you learn about where you need to get as you watch what they've done over the last two seasons?
 
Alex Michelsen: They're just on a different planet than the rest of us at this moment, to be honest. And I played Sinner twice in singles, so I kind of have a little bit more of an idea of what the level is like with him, because playing Carlos in doubles, it's just not the same. But you know, he still had those flashes of brilliance that he has.
 
They're both different players, but they're both just so damn good. There's a lot that I'm gonna have to improve if I want to compete with them.
 
Q: Does it motivate you seeing what they're doing at that young age?
 
Alex Michelsen: Of course. Carlos is only one year older than me and Sinner is two or three years older than me. They've had amazing success. And watching them, you see that it can be done, so hopefully I can try to follow in their footsteps a little bit.
 
Q: It's been, it's been a solid season for you. You cracked the top 30. You've played 25 events across the globe, reached the second week of a Slam, had a title and Estoril and made your first masters quarterfinal. How do you sum it up personally, and are you satisfied with where you're at right now?
 
Alex Michelsen: Honestly, it's kind of been a strange year for me. I've had a couple of good weeks here and there, but overall, I feel like I could have done a lot better, and I'm going to try to finish out the season strong. But I am also super happy with the new experiences this year and having a couple really great weeks.