Indian Wells
Michelsen upsets former champ Fritz in Indian Wells
American to face Medvedev or Baez in fourth spherical
March 10, 2026
ATP Tour
Alex Michelsen in motion on the BNP Paribas Open.
By ATP Staff
Alex Michelsen earned the largest win of his profession Monday when he defeated No. 7 within the PIF ATP Rankings Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 7-6(6) within the third spherical on the BNP Paribas Open.
“I played higher than my average level,” Michelsen stated after defeating the 2022 champion. “That’s what you have to do to beat a guy like him.”
Michelsen produced a formidable efficiency on serve to enhance to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head collection with Fritz. The American crucially saved seven of the eight break factors he confronted, in response to Infosys ATP Stats, and received 73 per cent (40/55) of his first-serve factors. Despite dropping serve whereas serving for the match, Michelsen held agency within the tie-break, the place he saved a set level at 5/6 earlier than sealing the upset in a single hour and 39 minutes.
“I kind of went back to muscle memory at that point,” Michelsen stated, “Also got a little lucky twice there.”
With his victory over Fritz, the Michelsen notched his first Top 10 win since defeating No. 10 Lorenzo Musetti en path to the quarter-finals on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Toronto in 2025. The 21-year-old will face two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev or Sebastian Baez within the fourth spherical.
