Two weeks after he performed in his first ATP Tour closing in Newport, 18-year-old Alex Michelsen has introduced that he’ll flip professional and forgo his school eligibility. The #NextGenATP American, who presently stands at a career-high No. 134 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, was dedicated to play school tennis on the College of Georgia.

“This was not a simple determination to make, particularly due to the unimaginable alternative that awaited me on the College of Georgia,” Michelsen wrote Sunday in an Instagram submit. He went on to thank the UGA coaches in addition to his many private coaches through the years, including that he’s trying ahead to his new journey on the ATP Tour.

Lengthy-time Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz additionally launched a press release in assist of Michelsen’s determination: “He has put himself in an outstanding place, particularly over the previous few months,” Diaz mentioned. “This is just too nice of a chance for Alex to cross up, and we are going to proceed to cheer him on as he takes these subsequent steps in his profession.”

After starting the 2023 season outdoors the High 500, Michelsen’s success this season on the ATP Challenger Tour culminated in a title final month in Chicago. He backed that up the next week by reaching his first tour-level closing in Newport, the place he beat former Georgia star John Isner within the semis.

Michelsen is in seventh place within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Subsequent Gen Race, placing him in a powerful place to make his Milan debut this November on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals. The California native is 2 locations behind countryman Ben Shelton, who turned professional final summer time after successful the 2022 NCAA singles title as a Florida Gator.