Opelka continues comeback, ousts defending champ Mannarino

#NextGenATP Alex Michelsen is aiming to go one step further than last year's runner-up finish at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, where on Tuesday the third seed defeated 2022 champion Maxime Cressy 6-4, 6-4.

Seeded at an ATP Tour event for the first time, the 19-year-old began his Newport campaign in the same way he did in 2023: beating countryman Cressy, though Michelsen received a first-round bye this year.

Michelsen, World No. 61 in the PIF ATP Rankings, broke Cressy's serve to love at 3-3 in both sets and fended off the two break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to improve to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the 27-year-old.

"I really like that I didn't get my serve broken. A couple tight service games, he played a couple really good return games and I was able to weasel out," said Michelsen. "Really fortunate to get out of this one four and four. Max is a very tough out on grass. Really happy with the win."

Into his fourth quarter-final of the year, Michelsen next faces another American: Aleksandar Kovacevic, who overcame seventh seed Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Michelsen is fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. The California native is aiming for a return trip to the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which runs from 18-22 December in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Reilly Opelka continued his comeback in his first ATP Tour appearance since 2022 Washington by upsetting top seed and defending champion Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. The 6'11" wild card hammered 19 aces to advance to his first grass-court quarter-final.

Fourth seed Christopher Eubanks rallied past wild card Ethan Quinn 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3 to reach his second quarter-final of the season. The American also reached the last eight on the Halle grass last month.