The ‘sneaky good’ American youngster who is being backed to break the ATP top 10 soon by Coco Gauff’s former coach

Follow us on Google Discover

American players are taking centre stage at this moment in time, having dominated the Houston Open and Charleston Open.

Frances Tiafoe and Jenson Brooksby made the final in Houston, with Sofia Kenin and Jessica Pegula reaching the 2025 Charleston Open final.

Brooksby is the lowest-ranked player to reach a clay final, with the qualifier taking on three-time consecutive finalist Tiafoe.

Home players have enjoyed their time at the ATP Houston, with all eight quarter-finalists coming from America.

Brooksby then beat top seed Tommy Paul in their semi-final, with second seed Tiafoe overcoming fourth seed Brandon Nakashima.

Brad Gilbert backs Alex Michelsen to break ATP top 10

Falling in the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 event meanwhile was Alex Michelsen, with the fifth seed losing to Tiafoe.

The 20-year-old has, however, garnered huge praise from Coco Gauff’s former coach Brad Gilbert, who is predicting big things for the world number 34.

READ MORE: Barbora Krejcikova and Coco Gauff’s former coach react after Jakub Mensik wins the Miami Open title

“Michelsen is sneaky good,” said Gilbert, as quoted by Tennis Channel. “I’d be really surprised if he doesn’t make [at least] the Top 10. His backhand is really good, and he’s really clever.”

Brad Gilbert ‘hopeful’ about the current generation of American men’s tennis

Michelsen recently reached a career-high rank of 32, and is currently seventh among the highest-ranked American men.

He is joined in that list by the likes of Paul and Shelton, who occupy places 13th and 14th respectively on the ATP Tour.

READ MORE: Coco Gauff’s former coach predicts how high Ben Shelton can reach in the world rankings after new career-best

The highest-ranked American Taylor Fritz meanwhile is all the way up in fourth, and is certainly flying the flag the highest for his nation.

It is a situation that has delighted Gilbert, who said: “We have a lot of guys that are quality players. And now there are younger ones, too. They are all getting a lot better.

“That’s why we’re a lot deeper. Sometimes the results aren’t exactly what you want, but you’ve got to keep pressing on.”

There has not, however, been an American men’s Grand Slam winner since Andy Roddick in 2003, when he won the US Open.

Asked if he’s worried that the Fritz generation will lose even more ground in the near future, Gilbert replied: “Let’s hope they pick it back up. You know, I just want to be hopeful. How about that? I’d rather be hopeful than be bitter.”