New Faces, Old Faces Thrive In Newport

Alex Michelsen made his first ever ATP main tour match victory a memorable one todaywith a stunning three set upset of defending Newport champion Maxime Cressy 67 75 64. The 18 year old American just won Chicago Challenger on Sunday. Earlier this year the Californian beat Jack Sock. Michelsen is a tall, rangy athletic type who can hit the running pass and knife the volley. Best of all he showed no fear or deference of Cressy at all.

19 year old American Ethan Quinn also won his first ATP match today 63 61 vs Mukund Sasikumar. Quinn, a smooth operator kind of reminds me of a curly haired Sebastian Korda, won the NCAA singles title this year saving three championship points in the process. Quinn is also known for his US Open qualifying win last year vs. Ernesto Escobedo.

Quinn advances to play top seed and world no. 14 Tommy Paul and Michelsen will face James Duckworth, a three set winner vs unorthodox Frenchman Constant Lestienne.

John Isner ended a seven match losing streak by grinding out and defeating Australian lefty qualifier Alex Bolt in three sets. Isner is still as tenacious as ever at 38 years of age but his legs seem a fraction less steady and sturdy now. He has reunited this week with former coach and two-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion Justin Gimelstob.

Steve Johnson looked sharp in the last match on stadium topping 25 year old Korean Yunseong Chung 63 62. The 2018 champion here now plays with a Babolat racquet (instead of his customary Yonex) and he looked like the old vintage Steve Johnson, once a top 30 stalwart, pounding forehands and serves. But as Johnson humbly said in his on court interview after the win, ” in tennis one week you could be on top of the world and then the next week you can be under a steaming pile…” Yes, he actually said that. Johnson plays no. 3 seed Ugo Humbert next.

The old American warhorses Isner and Johnson are still holding their ground in the ATP though it appears their days may be numbered as now both are ranked outside the top 100. And the wave of teenage American new faces has emerged, lead by Quinn and Michelsen who scored mightily impressive superb wins today which should be a prelude to many, many more in the coming years.

ATP · Newport Hall of Fame

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