NEW YORK (AFP/APP): Alex Michelsen’s grass-court run in Newport continued on Saturday as the 18-year-old American ousted four-time champion John Isner 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 to reach his first ATP final.
Michelsen had never won a tour-level match until this week, but he arrived in Rhode Island full of confidence and ranked as high as 190th in the world after winning his first title at the low-level Challenger circuit in Chicago.
He saved a set in the first set tiebreak before sinking the set two points later.
He broke Isner in the opening game of the second set to set up the advantage and finished in style with back-to-back aces.
“I think I’m going to need a month,” Michelsen said of how to deal with the week.
“It’s definitely going to take a little bit. I don’t feel like I’m in the final, but that’s probably good. That’s why I’m playing so relaxed.”
Michelsen withstood 20 aces from his big compatriot, who at 38 was dishing out 20 to the rising talent across the net.
“I knew he was going to regularly serve two or three aces per match, so I just focused on my serve to break,” Michelsen said.
“I was a little bit lucky to win that first set breaker and then I think I caught him sleeping a little bit (in the second) and then I just held my serve.
Michelsen, who defeated defending champion Maxime Cressy in the first round, will face French second seed Adrian Mannarino for the title.
Mannarino defeated third-seeded compatriot Ugo Humberto 6:4, 6:3.
The 35-year-old Mannarino also reached the final on grass in Mallorca in June, where he lost to American Christopher Eubanks.
Michelsen, meanwhile, is in entirely new territory.
He qualified in Mallorca and made his ATP debut in June, falling in his first match.
The teenager, yet to turn pro, showed no signs of nervousness as the first set against Isner went to a tiebreak and saved all three break points he faced in the hour and 42 minute clash.
