NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — Teenager Alex Michelsen beat four-time tournament champion John Isner 7-6 (6), 6-4 in an all-American semifinal at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, Rhode Island, on Saturday.
The 18-year-old Michelsen, playing in his second career ATP tournament after winning a challenger tour event in Chicago last week, advanced to the final and will face No. 2 seed Adrian Mannarino, who beat fellow-Frenchman and third-seeded Ugo Humbert, 6-4, 6-3, in the other semi.
The final will be held Sunday on Newport's grass courts, just outside the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The tournament is held in conjunction with enshrinement ceremonies into the Hall of Fame.
Esther Vergeer, 42, a dominant wheelchair player who captured 21-time Grand Slam singles titles and who is a seven-time Paralympic gold medalist, led the class of 2023. She was inducted with American Rick Draney, 61, who won 12 singles titles and six in doubles before the Grand Slam era of wheelchair tennis.
In an interesting twist, Michelsen, who signed and committed to Georgia, beat Isner, who attended the school and reached the 2007 NCAA singles final.