{"id":456181,"date":"2026-09-07T11:54:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T11:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/456181\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T11:54:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T11:54:15","slug":"from-california-to-the-u-s-open-the-future-of-american-mens-tennis-tries-to-take-over-the-present","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/456181\/","title":{"rendered":"From California to the U.S. Open, the future of American men\u2019s tennis tries to take over the present"},"content":{"rendered":"

For a few hours of a sparkling mid-December morning in Southern California, two guys who figure to play a major role in the future of American men\u2019s tennis<\/a> beat balls across the net of a neighborhood hard court.<\/p>\n

On the other side of a chain link fence, a women\u2019s pickleball<\/a> foursome click-clacked through a couple of sets, seemingly clueless about the identity of the two young men readying themselves for the start of the 2026 season. The yelps and chatter of a nursery school recess clattered down from a small hill overlooking the scene.<\/p>\n

Across the globe, other members of the ATP Tour top 40 were likely going through their paces at exclusive clubs, or those vaunted academies built on Rafael Nadal<\/a>\u2019s or Patrick Mouratoglou\u2019s name. Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien<\/a> were fine to do their thing in Mission Viejo, a way inland from Laguna Beach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate myself!\u201d Michelsen screamed, after a soft approach gave Tien an easy passing shot.<\/p>\n

That brought out a little grin from the 20-year-old, who already has one of the great tennis poker faces. There would be a few more grins that morning, including one when Michelsen missed an easy volley.<\/p>\n

\u201cI should be shot!\u201d he yelled.<\/p>\n

Before long, they were playing a 10-point match tiebreak, with the rules according to the Next Gen ATP Finals<\/a>, the tournament for the best players aged 20-and-under, that Tien went on to win a week later. Michelsen aced Tien with a serve that ticked the top of the net before dribbling over. He apologized.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can redo it if you\u2019re really sorry,\u201d Tien suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not that sorry,\u201d Michelsen, 21 at the time, said. He won the tiebreak a few points later.<\/p>\n

Within a few minutes, they were sitting on the bench beside the court, Michelsen asking Tien for some relationship advice from his partner in a climb to the top of their country\u2019s tennis mountain that started in the same Orange County hills. Sometimes, they were on neighboring courts at the same tennis center. More often, they shared fitness sessions on the beach.<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

\n Alex Michelsen is figuring out to map the contours of his game to success on the ATP Tour. (Patrick Hamilton \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Tennis moves fast. The current U.S. generation, led by Taylor Fritz<\/a>, Frances Tiafoe<\/a> and Tommy Paul<\/a>, is suddenly a collection of players in their late-20s running up against time. All of them registered head-scratching losses during the season\u2019s first week, but this U.S. Open has looked a little different.<\/p>\n

Ambivalence has laced through Tiafoe\u2019s relationship with tennis, though he declared himself fit for purpose at the start of the year and is back in the quarterfinals of his favorite tournament after one of the most consistent seasons of his career.<\/p>\n

Paul was banged up for the final six months of the 2025 season. He\u2019s been mostly healthy this year, but bumped into his ceiling again Sunday, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the fourth round.<\/p>\n

Fritz, who has largely stood apart from his compatriots in how he has maximized his talent, regularly playing on the biggest stages against the biggest stars, hit something more like a wall. He was upset in the third round Saturday by Francisco Cer\u00fandolo, the No. 24 seed from Argentina, who came back from two sets and a break down.<\/p>\n

Ben Shelton<\/a>, 23 and the senior in Tien and Michelsen\u2019s cohort, is the top-ranked American man now. He and Michelsen charged into the U.S. Open quarterfinals Sunday, with wins full of flash and firepower. Tien, the No. 14 seed has the chance to join them when he faces the unseeded, but richly experienced, Karen Khachanov in his fourth-round match Monday.<\/p>\n

Michelsen already has plenty of big wins, a huge serve, tons of upside, according to most high-quality tennis minds. At the 2025 Australian Open, Shelton, Tien and Michelsen were three of four American men to make the second week. Paul was the other.<\/p>\n

Seven Grand Slams later, it\u2019s Tiafoe who has joined those three in composing the tip of the spear to break the 23-year Grand Slam drought for the American men. Shelton would figure to have the best shot after crushing Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 Sunday night, but he faces a suddenly in-form Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals next.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be fireworks Tuesday night,\u201d Shelton said on the court after his latest win.<\/p>\n

Michelsen has yet to lose a set in four matches. He barreled through Tom\u00e1s Mart\u00edn Etcheverry of Argentina Sunday afternoon on Grandstand. He flipped the match over four points in the first-set tiebreak, saving a set point for Etcheverry on the Argentine\u2019s serve by knifing a backhand volley winner. Two big serves later, he clinched the set by grinding out a 24-shot rally.<\/p>\n

The turnaround rocked Etcheverry.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s American, he\u2019s playing here with the people, everyone supports him, of course, and he\u2019s motivated,\u201d Etcheverry said after the match.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t lose a set in the 1ast four matches. He\u2019s been unbelievable. I think he has good chances in the next round.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michelsen credited the fast, hot \u2014 but not too hot \u2014 conditions for some of his success this week. The heat has kept the balls lively. The slick courts keep then keep them low when Michelsen cracks his 130 mph serve and hard forehands and flat backhands.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe balls and the courts here are just absolutely perfect,\u201d he said. \u201cMy personal opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

That said, he believes he is a more complete player than he has ever been. His serve is no longer simply hard; it hits spots. And he\u2019s no longer the \u201cgiraffe on ice\u201d that he used to feel he resembled on a tennis court.<\/p>\n

Still, none of this was on the cards not long ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one ever told me I would be professional until I was 16 years old,\u201d he said during an interview Sunday. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t talked about.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s every bit of a professional now. He will face Tiafoe in the quarterfinals Tuesday in Arthur Ashe Stadium, as Tiafoe tries to keep hold of his torch.<\/p>\n

\"Learner<\/p>\n

\n Learner Tien has been emphasizing his serve as he looks to build on 2025. (Mike Owen \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a decent chance that practice match in Orange County in December may not have featured a chunk of the future of elite American men\u2019s tennis, but rather its present.<\/p>\n

Michelsen and Tien have barely seen each other this U.S. Open: They are on opposite sides of the draw and playing on different days. But they are in constant contact, texting each other updates and messages of support.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always been a target in our minds that we want to catch those guys,\u201d Tien said in December as he sat beside the court. \u201cI\u2019m sure, on the other hand, that they they want to keep the lead on on us, and they want to keep their top spots.\u201d<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take long for the movement to appear to be well on its way.<\/p>\n

A little more than halfway through January\u2019s Australian Open, Tiafoe was out in the third round, outplayed by the hometown favorite Alex de Minaur, who sent him home in three sets. Paul and a banged-up Fritz fell in the fourth round \u2014 the former to Carlos Alcaraz and the latter to Lorenzo Musetti, both of them younger, higher-ranked European talents that are likely to shine for the next decade or more, and one of them then the world No. 1.<\/p>\n

Michelsen lost a tough first-round match to Khachanov, but Tien blew out Daniil Medvedev, a former world No. 1 and U.S. Open champion, to become the youngest American male player to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal in 25 years. At one point in the match against Medvedev, he won 11 consecutive games and delivered Medvedev his first 6-0 Grand Slam set of his career, in 451 sets played.<\/p>\n

Shelton cruised to the quarterfinals before falling to Sinner.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of confidence, for sure,\u201d Tien said after one of his wins.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I have been playing a little bit better match by match, and, you know, each match I\u2019m making a little jump in how well I\u2019m playing, how comfortable I feel.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the top of the game, all the guys play very aggressively, they all have big strengths. Obviously, it\u2019s a goal to try and get there and compete with that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Seven months on from Australia, Tien, Michelsen and Shelton all have the world\u2019s most precious commodity on their side: Time. Tennis is all about trying to take time away from the other player, to make them feel so rushed that they can\u2019t breathe, between shots and between points.<\/p>\n

Time is also a friend to younger players. They haven\u2019t been around long enough to accumulate the scar tissue of losses and disappointment and unfulfilled dreams. Losses are learning experiences by default, rather than by mental force.<\/p>\n

They also possess another priceless commodity in sports and in life: Hope.\u00a0Fritz, Tiafoe and Paul still have plenty of that, but it\u2019s a different flavor. Their decade-plus in pro tennis serves as a constant check. At this stage of their careers, their improvements are likely going to be marginal, yet could still bring massive reward.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt some point it\u2019s not going to be me anymore,\u201d Fritz said of being the top American in January.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a natural progression,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m getting old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

\n Alex Michelsen has been enjoying the conditions at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (Patrick Smith \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

No one would say that Tien or Michelsen are on their way to being old, but they have recently moved away from the coaches who guided them through their early pro careers, to work with seasoned tour veterans who know what it takes to get to the top. Tien hired Michael Chang, the 1989 French Open champion and a top-10 mainstay during the 1990s, in the middle of last season. Michelsen brought on Kristof Vliegen, a Belgian who helped Tallon Griekspoor rise from unranked nobody to the cusp of the top 20.<\/p>\n

Vliegen, speaking last December as his charge sweated through a series of sprints, said that Michelsen\u2019s physical gifts \u2014 he\u2019s 6-4, with long arms, a huge serve and soft hands \u2014 made signing on with him late last year a no-brainer, even if his footwork needs some foot work.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn October when I was free, I had some calls. I said to everybody that I\u2019m not looking for a guy who\u2019s 32 years old.\u00a0 I\u2019m looking for a young guy, it doesn\u2019t matter the ranking. A young guy that I can see that I can improve him or help him.\u00a0I wanna be involved in the project that we have, and we will see how far we get with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Time, health, luck, and mental fortitude will all play a role in determining that. Tennis-wise, Tien still looks to be the more finished project. He has smooth, crisp shots and plays with a precocious level of control, building points and jumping on chances to tag the back of the ball for a lacing winner down or across the court.<\/p>\n

This has taken him to a series of impressive wins over top-10 players, but they tend to beat him the second time around, once they are familiar with the way he uses his left-handedness more effectively than just about anyone. Still, his mien helped him surprise opponents last year. He doesn\u2019t look like the guy who is going to clean your clock on a tennis court. And then he does, shooting around the court like a cat, getting his feet behind the ball and cracking it away.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, there are various aspects of his game that we are wanting to improve like his serve (which has improved a lot in such a short period of time) and fitness,\u201d Chang wrote in an email. \u201cHe has no big weaknesses in his game, so a lot of the focuses are on refining certain shots and making them better.\u201d<\/p>\n

At 5-11, Tien is undersized for a top pro these days and soft-spoken, halting at times in his speech, thinking before he speaks. He drives a small Tesla. Michelsen gets around in a BMW sport utility vehicle, which he acknowledges is not exactly the hottest look for a young and rising sports star. His mother uses the car to drive the rest of the family around when Michelsen is away.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a big guy,\u201d he said. \u201cIt works for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each seeks some of what the other one has. For Tien, an outstanding mover who rarely makes a bad decision during a point, a year of hardcore fitness work, even during the season, has paid dividends. The puffy cheeks of his rookie year are gone.<\/p>\n

To the naked eye, his service motion appears to have new pop to it. Strength and flexibility work has helped him learn how to snap his spine with greater force to add velocity.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a pretty big focus of mine for a while,\u201d he said in December, after collecting plenty of free points across two sets and the match tiebreak against Michelsen. \u201cBaby steps.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Michelsen, who doesn\u2019t rate his own serve all that highly, even though when he cracks it can sound like a thick tree-branch snapping, the chase is not for velocity but rather accuracy and placement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ball placement on every shot and just being a little more intentional,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel like I would just hit balls and not really think about where they\u2019re going too much and you\u2019ve got to be a little bit more focused on the court. I feel that comes with some maturity for me as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then there is the footwork, which rarely comes naturally to someone his size. After Michelsen and Tien finished their two hours of practice, Rodney Marshall, his fitness coach \u2014 who occasionally also trains Tien \u2014 showed up and dropped the cones on the court.<\/p>\n

\"Learner<\/p>\n

\n Learner Tien defeated peer Jakub Men\u0161\u00edk to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open. (Matthew Stockman \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

For the next 40 minutes, Michelsen danced and sprinted around the court, with Marshall timing all his moves. Tien watched from the side, thankful he was on orders to keep his legs fresh for the Next Gen Finals. Still, he couldn\u2019t resist jumping in for a mano-a-mano final sprint. Michelsen nicked him.<\/p>\n

Vliegen liked what he saw. He knows the best players in the world right now are the best movers. He wants to help make Michelsen as big and as fast as he can, the sooner the better.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s 21,\u201d he said of Michelsen. \u201cHe\u2019s gonna have his best years probably from his 24, 25, 26 years old. These are going to be the years where he\u2019s going to be performing the best because he should be stronger mentally, should be stronger physically. You keep on building those things now, the chances are bigger that he\u2019s going to have a good peak at those moments, and if we get the peak earlier, I\u2019m not here to wait for three or four years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tien\u2019s and Michelsen\u2019s similarities and differences make them a fascinating pair. They grew up close to each other in Orange County and spent their teen years competing and practicing with each other.<\/p>\n

Both estimate that they have hit more balls with the other guy than they have with any other person. Michelsen is the rare pro who is unbothered by Tien\u2019s left-handedness, even though most of his opponents are right-handed. A tennis ball is a tennis ball. He sees it. He hits it. It\u2019s not that deep. Both are intensely competitive, though they disguise in different ways. Like Vliegen, they do not want to wait, but they also recognize that they do not have much choice.<\/p>\n

Michelsen may never move like Alcaraz. Tien probably won\u2019t ever have the power of Sinner. For now, though, they have time, time to work and hope that it all might come together for them one day.<\/p>\n

At the same time, here comes the spotlight, because the game moves. They want their time to be now. More and more, it\u2019s looking like it will be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For a few hours of a sparkling mid-December morning in Southern California, two guys who figure to play…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":456182,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8,6522,18874],"class_list":["post-456181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-culture","tag-tennis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=456181"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456181\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/456182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=456181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=456181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=456181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}