"I requested a day session. Not gonna get it." – Alex Michelsen bows out of the Australian Open after an impressive run

Alex Michelsen’s journey at the Australian Open has come to an end, but the 20-year-old American has undoubtedly made a name for himself. He showcased his talent and resilience throughout the tournament, proving he has all the makings of a future champion. However, his impressive run was halted in the quarter-finals by Australia’s Alex de Minaur.

Despite the defeat, Michelsen has built a strong foundation for the rest of the 2025 season. He had hoped for a day-session match under the sun, but his request was denied. Regardless, his performances in Melbourne have solidified him as a rising star in men’s tennis.

The end to an excellent tournament for Alex Michelsen

As the Australian Open enters its final stages, standout performances continue to emerge. De Minaur delivered a sensational display against Michelsen, securing victory in straight sets.

Michelsen faced a tough challenge against the Australian number one but entered the match quietly confident after securing big wins, including his opening-round upset of 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Many expected the young American to put up a strong fight, but de Minaur’s dominance proved too much as he claimed a 6-0, 7-6(5), 6-3 victory.

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The first set was completely one-sided, with Michelsen failing to win a game. He showed more resistance in the second, pushing it to a tiebreak, but de Minaur’s precision proved decisive. The Australian then maintained control in the third set, closing out the match professionally.

This victory means de Minaur becomes the 35th Australian to reach the quarter-finals at his home Grand Slam. More impressively, he is only the third Australian since 2005 to achieve this, joining Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios. His next challenge is a quarter-final clash against world number one Jannik Sinner.

Despite Michelsen’s exit, his tournament campaign has been nothing short of impressive. He demonstrated immense character, particularly after losing the first eight games of the match.

Reflecting on his performance, Michelsen remained positive:

" I was really pleased with my fighting spirit," he said. " I managed to put myself in a position to almost win a set against a top-10 player, despite not playing my best. He came through in the tie-breaker, hitting a forehand pass at 5-4 and an ace at 5-All. I have to give him credit for that."

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" Super happy with even getting it to a breaker there in that set because it did not feel very good at the first hour of the match. It was really poor. So super happy to compete and almost find a way in that second set."

The request for a day match

 Alex de Minaur

Players often have strong preferences for playing during the day or at night, depending on their comfort and playing style. Michelsen, who had played all of his previous matches in hot daytime conditions, requested a day session for his quarter-final match. However, his request was denied, and he instead played his first night match of the tournament.

When asked whether the scheduling change affected his performance, Michelsen acknowledged some difficulties but didn’t use it as an excuse.

" No, not really. It was my first night match of the tournament," said Michelsen. " I played during the day when it was hot every single time, and then played tonight, a little colder. The ball was coming at me a lot slower. I wasn't getting my feet appropriately set. That was a big part of it."

" I was a little nervous, but that wasn't really why I lost eight games. I couldn't find my feet. Playing a guy like Alex, who is not going to give you anything for free, that's always in the back of your head when the balls fluff up quickly, you can't hit a winner… I requested a day session. Not gonna get it. Yeah."

A bright future ahead

There is no doubt that Michelsen has the potential to win major titles in the future. His performances in Melbourne have demonstrated his talent, determination, and ability to compete with the world’s best. With continued development and experience, he will undoubtedly be a player to watch in the coming years.

His breakthrough Australian Open campaign may have ended, but this is likely just the beginning for Alex Michelsen.

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