Hall of Fame Open: Michelsen through to final for second year in a row

Third seed Alex Michelsen advanced to the final of the Hall of Fame Open at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport on Saturday for the second year running.

The 19-year-old defeated fellow American Reilly Opelka, the lowest-ranked semi-finalist in ATP Tuor history, in straight sets on Saturday. Michelsen won 6-2, 6-0, winning the final eight games in a row, to set up an all-American final against second seed Marcos Giron.

Earlier in the week, Michelsen defeated Maxime Cressy (6-4, 6-4) and Aleksandar Kovacevic (6-4, 6-4) to reach the semis while Opelka, ranked No 1188 in the world after missing most of the last two years on the tour due to injuries, defeated Frenchman Constant Lestienne (6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (2)), Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, the top seed (6-4, 3-6, 6-4) and Mackenzie McDonald (4-6, 6-3, 6-4) on his way to the last four.

Probably the best returning day of my life..

Alex Michelsen

With this win, Michelsen improves to 7-1 lifetime at Newport, which will drop off the main ATP Tour and return as an ATP Challenger event combined with a WTA $125K event on the 2025 calendar.

The win makes Michelsen the youngest player to make consecutive ATP Tour finals at the same event since Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz did the same in Umag (2021 and 2022).

“I honestly didn’t miss a return when I touched the ball,” Michelsen said during his on-court interview. “Probably the best returning day of my life, maybe besides last year against John Isner in the semis. I did it again in the semis here, so super happy with that.”

The American, who lost in the final last year to France’s Adrian Mannarino, is aiming to win his first ATP Tour level title and could rise as high as No 54 in the world if he wins on Sunday.

Newport ATP 250, other semi-final result (International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, grass, USD 661,585):

• Christopher Eubanks beat Marcos Giron 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

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