Alex Michelsen made a winning start at the ATP 250 event in Houston. The 5th seed clinched his 12th ATP win of the season against his good friend, Learnen Tien, toppling the fellow youngster 6-4, 6-2 in 70 minutes.
Thus, Alexavenged last year's Next Gen ATP Finals semi-final defeat and reached the last 16. The more experienced American took 18 points more than his opponent and had the upper hand on serve and return.
Michelsen gave away 11 points in nine service games. He lost serve once from the only chances presented to his rival and turned 46% of the return points into four breaks from eight break points.
Michelsen was off to a great start in his games. The 5th seed provided five comfortable holds in the opener, challenging his good friend to follow that pace. Tien dropped serve in the early stages and failed to pull the break back despite a solid resistance.
A left-handed Tien held at love in the first game of the encounter, and Michelsen responded with a forehand winner in game two. Alex stepped in on the return in the third game and landed a forehand crosscourt winner for a break at love and a 2-1 advantage.
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The older American fired an ace in the fourth game, holding at love and moving 3-1 up after swift nine minutes. Learnen denied two more break points in the seventh game and remained within one break deficit. Alex controlled everything in his games and produced a hold at love in game eightfor a 5-3 lead.
Michelsen served for the opener at 5-4 and claimed an entertaining point to wrap up the first part of the duel in 31 minutes. Alex attacked on the return in the first game of the second set and landed a volley winner for a break and an early advantage.
He cemented it with a forced error in game two and climbed back from 0-40 in the next one to secure another break with a backhand winner. Learnen pulled one break back with a crafty drop shot winner in game four, reducing the gap to 3-1.
However, Michelsen provided his third straight break in game five following the rival's backhand error, moving 4-1 up and closer to the top. Alex hammered a backhand winner in game six for 5-1, forcing his rival to serve to stay in the match.
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A left-hander landed a service winner, bringing the game home and reducing the gap to 5-2. The older Americanserved for the win in game eight and hit a forehand winner for three match points. He seized the second with a forehand down the line winner, reaching the second round in style.
