Alex Michelsen is set to take the bull by the horns as he faces Jannik Sinner in the second round of the US Open! Amidst the anticipation of this high-stakes match, the spotlight has also been on Michelsen’s recent decision to part ways with his former coach, Eric Diaz, a move that left fans speculating about his next steps. However, Michelsen is wasting no time, already forging ahead under the guidance of his new coach, Robby Ginepri.

Robby Ginepri, the former World No. 15 who brings a wealth of expertise to the table, has joined Michelsen’s squad. Joining Jay Leavitt on Michelsen’s coaching staff is Ginepri, who reached the semifinals of the 2005 US Open, won three ATP Tour championships, and advanced to the fourth round of four additional majors. With Ginepri’s distinguished background and experience, Michelsen is prepared to step up his performance and meet the demands of the professional tennis tour.

Ahead of the big clash, the 20-year-old American talked about having Ginepri on his side, and how he is the right fit to be his coach at the US Open itself. He stated, “It’s good. He definitely knows his way around. He definitely knows how to make second week of a Slam and for me, that’s big. I still have my coach, Jay [Leavitt], who I’ve been working with the last three years. But having Robby there, it’s been so far, so good. It’s still pretty new, but so far, so good.” 

Further, he added, “I kind of told him I didn’t really know who he was. I knew the name, but I didn’t know how he played and I kind of started watching YouTube videos and thought, ‘Wow, this guy was good’. He [reached the semi-finals] here. Obviously, the guy knows what he’s talking about.” In 2022, Robby Ginepri announced his retirement after a distinguished 14-year career on the ATP World Tour. The former World No. 15, who was the last active American man to have reached a major semifinal, made his mark in 2005—a standout year in which he achieved a career-high 37 match wins.

At the 2005 US Open, Ginepri’s remarkable run saw him win three consecutive five-setters before losing a thrilling semifinal to Andre Agassi. Subsequently, throughout his career, the Georgia native reached the fourth round or better at all four Grand Slam and represented the US in the Davis Cup (2004 and 2009) and the Olympics (2008). Earlier this year, his coach was someone who could play the bad cop, Eric Diaz, but apparently, the coach-player duo got into controversy during last year’s US Open.

Eric Diaz criticized Alex Michelsen’s act as a ‘kid’

Alex Michelsen showed signs of tension and annoyance on the court during his debut US Open as a professional. Instead of offering support, Coach Eric Diaz was critical of him. In a recent New York Times interview, Diaz recounted, “There were a few hats thrown and maybe a ball that might have wandered out of the facility that might have been his fault.” 

Although Diaz laughed about it later, it was a serious matter at the time. He told the 19-year-old to grow up as he left multiple games. In addition, he said, “If you’re going to act like a kid, then I’m going to leave. I told him afterward, ‘I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you are pretty good and it’s about time to let the tennis do the talking and to control the attitude.” Along with outlining Michelsen’s areas for improvement, Diaz’s approach was tough love.

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