Tennis

Novak Djokovic, the undisputed GOAT of tennis, made a triumphant return to the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Saturday, after a five-year hiatus. The four-time champion received a thunderous ovation from the packed Qi Zhong Stadium, reminding him of the immense love and support he enjoys in China.Djokovic faced a stern test from rising American Alex Michelsen, who pushed the Serbian legend to the brink in a thrilling two-set battle. The opening set saw Djokovic erase a 4-1 deficit, while the second set featured a dramatic tiebreak where he saved two set points before prevailing 7-6 (9)."These conditions are suitable for him," Djokovic acknowledged. "He has a big serve, an attacking style, and he was all over me in the first five games. It took me some time to shake off the rust."Despite the challenge, Djokovic remained composed and mentally tough, ultimately securing a hard-fought 7-6 (3), 7-6 (9) victory. This triumph marked his 35th win in 40 matches at the ATP Masters 1000 event."I missed being in Shanghai and China," Djokovic expressed. "Five years is too long for the kind of support I receive here. I want to thank everyone for coming out and creating a great atmosphere."Djokovic's victory sets him on the path to potentially claiming his 100th career title, a milestone he has been chasing since his triumph at the Paris Olympics.Meanwhile, top seed Jannik Sinner, second seed Alexander Zverev, and third seed Carlos Alcaraz also advanced in straight sets. Alcaraz, who recently defeated Sinner in the Beijing final, will be a formidable opponent for Djokovic in the later rounds.

In Tokyo, qualifier Alex Michelsen stunned fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, marking his first Top 20 victory since May. Tsitsipas, who appeared unwell during the match, dropped all five break points against his serve.Michelsen, playing his first event since the US Open, improved to 25-24 on the season. The 20-year-old has finished runner-up twice this season at the 250 level in Newport and Winston-Salem.In other action, Tommy Paul brushed aside Matteo Arnaldi 6-3, 6-2. The No. 5 seed did not face a break point, thanks to his 15 for 17 success rate on his second serve. Paul is looking to make up ground in the ATP Finals race, currently ranked No. 11.Yoshihito Nishioka gave home fans a thrilling win, outlasting Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (5). Nishioka saved two match points on his serve at 5-6 in the decider.Fellow lefty Jack Draper also emerged victorious, beating Mattia Bellucci 6-4, 6-2. The US Open semifinalist will face second-seeded Hubert Hurkacz in the second round.

Jannik Sinner, the world's top-ranked tennis player, continued his impressive 2024 season by reaching the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open on Wednesday. Sinner defeated American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 7-5, saving all eight break points he faced.Sinner attributed his victory to his forehand, which he used to push Michelsen back and control the court. "I tried to push a bit more with the forehand when I had the chance," Sinner said. "The court is quite slippery and fast, so the more flat you can play sometimes, the better it is."Despite missing the Paris Olympics due to tonsilitis, Sinner has been in excellent form this season, reaching the quarterfinals or better in all 10 tournaments he has played. He is now 45-5 on the year, including a victory at the Australian Open.Sinner's next opponent will be Jordan Thompson, while Frances Tiafoe advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Lorenzo Musetti. Tiafoe has had a mixed North American hard-court swing, but he is now one win away from reaching the semifinals in Cincinnati.In other action, Daniil Medvedev and Jiri Lehecka will face off for a spot in the quarterfinals. Medvedev is the 2019 Cincinnati champion, while Lehecka is a rising star who recently reached the semifinals of Wimbledon.

Marcos Giron's maiden ATP Tour title triumph at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open in Newport was a testament to his resilience and serving prowess. The 30-year-old American fired 13 aces in the thrilling three-set final against compatriot Alex Michelsen, including a match-winning ace on his second championship point.Giron, seeded second, dropped the first set in a tiebreaker but rallied to win the second and third sets 6-3, 7-5. His victory marked the ninth different first-time winner on the ATP Tour this season.Michelsen, a teenager who reached the final last year, fought valiantly but couldn't overcome Giron's powerful serve and forehand. Giron's victory was particularly impressive considering he won three of his four matches this week in deciding sets.The Thousand Oaks, California native is set to break into the Top 40 of the ATP rankings when they are released on Monday. He will represent the United States at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, his second Olympic appearance.Giron's triumph in Newport is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has been a consistent performer on the ATP Tour for several years, and his maiden title victory is a well-deserved reward.

Reilly Opelka's comeback to competitive tennis was cut short in the semifinals of the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, as he fell to 19-year-old American Alex Michelsen in straight sets.Michelsen, the No. 3 seed, dominated the match from the outset, winning 10 consecutive games to secure a 6-2, 6-0 victory in just 59 minutes. The teenager saved three break points in the opening game and only lost three points on serve for the remainder of the match.Opelka, a former world No. 17, had returned to action as a wild card after a two-year hiatus due to hip and wrist surgeries. He had recorded three three-set wins, including one over defending champion Adrian Mannarino, to become the lowest-ranked semifinalist in the ATP Tour era since 1990.However, Michelsen proved too strong for the veteran American. The 6-0 second set was just the sixth bagel set Opelka had ever been served in his career and only the third in a tour-level main-draw match.Michelsen, currently ranked No. 61, is the youngest player to make back-to-back finals at the same ATP event since Carlos Alcaraz in 2021-22. He will face either No. 2 seed Marcos Giron or No. 4 seed Chris Eubanks in Sunday's final."At the beginning, he was having break points on my serve and I was like, 'This is going to be one of those matches that's going to come down to the wire,'" Michelsen said. "But then I honestly didn't miss a return when I touched the ball. It was probably the best returning day of my life."Opelka, despite the disappointing result, expressed optimism about his future. "I'm still working my way back," he said. "I'm not where I want to be yet, but I'm getting there."

Chris Eubanks' title defense at the Mallorca Championships came to an abrupt end in the first round, as he was upset by 18-year-old Jakub Mensik 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Mensik, playing only his second tour-level match on grass, outplayed the No. 8 seed with his powerful serve and aggressive baseline play.Mensik, who became the youngest match winner in tournament history, credited his serve and forehand as his biggest weapons. He has enjoyed a breakout season, reaching his first ATP title match in Doha and securing two Top 10 wins. However, injuries prevented him from making his French Open debut.Eubanks, who won his first ATP title in Mallorca last year, is projected to fall outside the Top 60 next week. He will face a tough challenge in defending his Wimbledon quarterfinal points.Meanwhile, Alex Michelsen, who lost to Eubanks in the first round last year, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over No. 3 seed Adrian Mannarino. Michelsen, a rising star on the grass, finished runner-up in Newport last year and qualified for the 500-level event in Halle.Other British players, Paul Jubb and Adam Walton, also won their main-draw openers after coming through qualifying.

Alex Michelsen, a rising star in tennis, has come a long way since his first-round qualifying loss at Indian Wells last year. Now ranked in the Top 100, the 19-year-old American is making his ATP Masters 1000 main-draw debut at the BNP Paribas Open, where he won the Easter Bowl titles just two years ago.Michelsen's journey to the top has been marked by hard work and determination. After a breakout summer in 2022, he reached an ATP final in Newport and won his maiden Challenger title in Chicago. In 2023, he continued to impress with a third-round showing at the Australian Open and his first Top 10 win in Los Cabos.Reflecting on his connection to Indian Wells, Michelsen said, "It's everyone's favorite Masters 1000. I grew up very close to it, so being back here is incredible." He credits his experience playing in the California desert as a junior for helping him develop his game.Michelsen's success on the court has not changed his off-court habits. He still enjoys sweets and watches a lot of tennis, both for fun and to study his opponents. He also values the camaraderie among the group of young players who qualified for the ATP NextGen Finals last year."Everyone you listed are all really good guys and it's a lot of fun," Michelsen said. "You can buddy up with them in the locker room and it's a lot of fun to be around those guys."As he continues to rise in the rankings, Michelsen remains humble and approachable. He credits Ben Shelton as a role model, saying, "He's a very nice guy. Ever since I got Top 100 and I've been around him at the same events, he's been very kind, and so is his dad."Michelsen's journey is a testament to the power of hard work and dedication. As he prepares for his main-draw debut at Indian Wells, he is excited to continue his rise in the sport and make a name for himself on the world stage.