Follow us on Google Discover The ATP Tour season is rapidly reaching its conclusion, although a handful of key tournaments remain in the schedule.
Currently in the limelight are the Almaty Open and the European Open, both of which are ATP 250 events.
Jannik Sinner will play the Vienna Open next week, but he is among the stars absent from the latest ATP tournaments.
Sinner is in Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam, where he has been joined by Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
But involved in this week’s action are high-profile names such as Daniil Medvedev and world number 10 Karen Khachanov.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesAmerican player currently having trial period with new coach at Almaty Open
The duo are in Kazakhstan for the Almaty Open, where world number 36 Alex Michelsen is also taking part.
And he shared an update on his team after winning his opener against Beibit Zhukayev, telling Tennis Channel: “I’m here with Kristof Vliegen, new coach.
“As of now we’re doing a little trial period. So let’s see how it goes. And then I’m with my trainer Byron [Manning], I’ve been with him for a couple of years.”
The win brought an end to a five-match losing streak in singles, of which the American said: “Definitely a tough go lately in singles, so super happy to end that little streak I was on.
“The altitude here, I feel like it’s helpful for my game. Shots are penetrating a little more. Beibit’s got a massive serve, so I knew going in that he was gonna hold serve well.
“I think he might have hurt himself. I saw he had a lot of tape and his back was taped up. I played super well at the baseline for the first time in a long time. A lot of positives going forward.”
Michelsen has indeed picked up another win since, defeating Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 6-2 to secure a quarterfinal spot.
EXCLUSIVE: Alex Michelsen is starting fresh in Almaty and announces coaching trial with Kristof Vliegen 👀
The American snapped his five-match losing streak earlier today. https://t.co/wYnbRvOOpT
— TENNIS (@Tennis) October 15, 2025
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What did Alex de Minaur say about Alex Michelsen at the Laver Cup?
While he has been struggling in singles since the Cincinnati Open, Michelsen has been impressing in doubles.
He arrived very late to Kazakhstan for that very reason, having reached the doubles final of the Shanghai Masters alongside Andre Goransson.
And it was in that format at the Laver Cup where Michelsen left a lasting impression on his Team World teammate Alex de Minaur.
De Minaur labelled Michelsen “unbelievable” after his doubles efforts in San Francisco last month, with the Australian adding that the American played “some incredible tennis”.
And despite finishing as runner-up in Shanghai, Michelsen was grateful for the experience of playing doubles.
He said: “It’s good matches, it’s good money and it’s good pressure points as well. It’s obviously not anywhere near the same as singles, but you get the serve reps, the return reps, you get the reps at the net, and I think that’s really beneficial to my game.”
Michelsen has caught the eye of Brad Gilbert also in his brief career so far, with Coco Gauff’s former coach backing him to break the ATP top 10 in the near future.
Currently ranked 36th, the 21-year-old reached a career-high rank of 30 earlier this year, while he is still seeking a maiden ATP title.