Whether it was watching Roger Federer in the men’s doubles at London 2012, or playing the iconic accompanying video game, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, the 20-year-old cannot help but dream of fulfilling his ambitions on home soil. After all, he was born in Laguna Hills, just an hour from Los Angeles.
“It would be incredible,” he admits of the prospect of LA28. “It would one of the greatest things that I would get to experience in this life. I thought about it a lot. It’s close to my home, so I’m sure I would have a lot home support, and it would just be an absolutely incredible experience.”
Michelsen could have made his Olympic debut before turning 20 – he was on the verge of making the Team USA roster for Paris 2024, where the top four men’s singles players earned NOC quotas. But the then-USA no. 8 missed out by just 78 ranking points, even if he did not fully believe that he warranted a spot.
He explains, “I missed the Paris cut by one because a lot of the American guys didn’t want to play and I almost made it somehow – even though I shouldn’t have – I almost made it. I really hope I can make the cut, it’s close to my home.”
Michelsen will be just 23-years-old by the time the Olympic Rings adorn LA once again, the third time that it will host the Games. Plenty of time – and competition – awaits to make it to the City of Angels.
“There’s a lot of things that have to get better in my game,” Michelsen concludes. “I’m only 20, I’ve got to mature a lot more, I’ve got to get a better serve, a better forehand, become a better athlete. There’s a lot of things that I need to get to Olympic calibre before I step out there in ’28.”