Michelsen clinches first tour-level clay-court win in Munich

BMW Open

#NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen earned his first clay-court ATP Tour win on Monday at the BMW Open, where he moved past German wild card Max Hans Rehberg 7-6(2), 6-3 in wet Munich conditions.

The 19-year-old, who was competing in just his second tour-level match on the surface, saved two set points on serve at 4-5 in the first set, before he earned the decisive break of the second set in the eighth game to advance after one hour and 43 minutes.

With his ninth tour-level win of the season, Michelsen has improved to 8-1 against players ranked outside the Top 100 in the PIF ATP Rankings this year. The World No. 70 will next meet seventh seed Dominik Koepfer or Chilean Cristian Garin.

After rain delayed the start of Day 1 action in Munich, Jack Draper eventually took to court and booked his spot in the second round at the ATP 250.

The British lefty sunk Czech Vit Kopriva 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 to record his 50th tour-level win. The 22-year-old, who is the sixth seed in Munich, is chasing his maiden ATP Tour title this week. He converted six of his 10 break points according to Infosys ATP Stats to emerge victorious in the pair's first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

Draper will in the second round play German wild card Rudolf Molleker, who ousted Italian qualifier Francesco Passaro 6-4, 6-2. The home favourite hit nine aces and saved the only break point he faced.

Former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem was unable to reach the second round at the ATP 250 event. Spanish qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas eliminated the Austrian 6-4, 6-4. Thiem is now 2-4 in tour-level matches this season.

Opponent approval 👍

ATP Tour debutant Alejandro Moro Canas takes out Thiem 6-4, 6-4@BMWOpen24 | #BMWOpen pic.twitter.com/VekM0bFsuT

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 15, 2024

Moro Canas had never previously played an ATP Tour main draw match. The World No. 240 will next take on third seed Taylor Fritz.