COVID saved my career," Michelsen shares his breakthrough story

Clément Gehl

le 16/10/2025 à 10h34

1 min to read

Isner Johnson Michelsen Querrey Sock

On the Nothing Major Show podcast, Alex Michelsen told John Isner, Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson about his breakthrough into the professional world. For him, the COVID epidemic played a predominant role.

He explains: "I didn't consider myself a professional tennis player, but I knew I was pretty good. I was in the top 5 of my class. Then I started participating in Futures tournaments and I thought: 'Wait, I can be like all these young players.'

I started getting ideas that I could turn professional. I don't know, I would never have made it without COVID, because thanks to it, I was able to study at home.

COVID saved me, it saved my tennis career, to be honest. That's when I started playing five hours a day.

At the time, I played tennis like in high school. I was an average player, then I started participating in these tournaments. I was ranked around 500th, I reached the Challenger final and I thought: 'Wait, I can make it.'

But my parents wanted me to continue my studies, and I had little time to succeed. Then I won the Chicago Challenger, reached the final in Newport, beat Isner in the semifinals, and that solidified my position (during the 2023 season).