Michelsen controls the margins against Struff
Alex Michelsen opened his National Bank Open with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win over Jan-Lennard Struff. The young American took the first set for the loss of a single game, wobbled through the second, then reset and ran away with the decider.
Struff hit back in the middle set, leaning on his serve to steady the match and level the contest. Michelsen answered by attacking the German’s second serve and stepping inside the baseline, breaking repeatedly to close out the third.
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Another marker in a strong season
The result extends a productive 2026 for Michelsen, who has climbed by backing his forehand and taking time away from opponents. His flat, early strike suits a quick hard court, and Montreal hands him another stage to press higher up the rankings.
He rarely let Struff dictate. When the German pushed forward, Michelsen passed him or forced the error, and the lopsided outer sets reflected how one-sided those stretches became.
Momentum into the next round
A clean opening win keeps Michelsen fresh at a tournament where the draw can turn quickly. He has already troubled seeded players this season, and the aggressive tennis he produced against Struff travels well on this surface. The next round will test whether he can sustain it against stiffer opposition.
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