Alex Michelsen on Becoming Pro Over Going To College | Behind The Athletes Podcast [camLmW7F34y]
At 18, Alex Michelsen was ranked 600 in the world – and convinced he could go pro. Everyone around him thought that was delusional. Three years later, he's inside the top 40 – and at the 2026 Miami Open, he was the only player to break Jannik Sinner's serve in the entire tournament. Mark sits down with the 21-year-old American at Indian Wells and talks about the moment that changed everything: beating John Isner in the Newport semis in 2023, then turning down a full scholarship to the University of Georgia to turn pro. Alex opens up about what makes Sinner and Alcaraz so unbeatable – he says there are simply no weaknesses to exploit – and what that means for everyone else on tour. Plus: why tennis is the loneliest sport, how playing right-handed as a natural lefty shaped his game, and why his self-described "delusional confidence" has won him more matches than his serve ever could. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:59 First Big Wins & Big Decisions 15:08 Parents & Friendship w/ Learner Tien 25:06 Sinner/Alcaraz Dominance 29:50 Match Prep & Tour Life 35:55 Money & Costs in Tennis 46:13 Staying Focused & Playing on Clay 52:01 Learning From Losses 57:35 Advice to Younger Self Alex Michelsen Instagram: Contact us Mark Hartmann: Instagram: TikTok: Spotify: www.bta-pod.com #tennis #atp #indianwells #athlete #mindset #sports #podcast