ATP Winston-Salem Final Prediction: Alex Michelsen vs Lorenzo Sonego
August 24, 2024 at 04:00 PM EDT
The Line: Alex Michelsen -135 / Lorenzo Sonego +108
Alex Michelsen will play Lorenzo Sonego in the final of the 2024 Winston-Salem Open. The match is scheduled for Saturday, August 24, 2024. Here’s our Alex Michelsen vs Lorenzo Sonego prediction. This article will also contain an Alex Michelsen vs Lorenzo Sonego pick.
Alex Michelsen vs Lorenzo Sonego Preview
Alex Michelsen will compete in his third ATP final at the 2024 Winston-Salem Open. To get there, he defeated Pablo Carreno Busta, who retired from their semifinal due to injury. Michelsen was leading 7-6, 2-1 (trailed in the first set 2-5) when the Spaniard quit.
He’ll be hoping the third time is the charm after losing his two previous ATP finals, both in Newport in successive years. Michelsen will break into the Top 50 of the rankings next week and can top it off by winning his first Tour level, which will harness his reputation as a rising star of American men’s tennis.
Lorenzo Sonego, meanwhile, defeated former Top 10 player David Goffin in straight sets in a match that took 17 games to decide. The Italian World No. 58 needed only 80 minutes to seal victory.
He tallied two aces and landed 63% first serves. He won 75% first-serve points (24/32) and 68% second-serve points (13/19). He converted three of six break points. Sonego has won three ATP titles, the last of which was in Metz in 2022.
Alex Michelsen vs Lorenzo Sonego Head-To-Head
• Sonego leads Michelsen 1-0, winning their lone meeting at the 2024 Cagliari Challenger in three sets.
Alex Michelsen vs Lorenzo Sonego Prediction
Sonego has not dropped a set at this tournament and will look to capitalize on Michelsen’s nerves in the final, given the American’s recent record in his two ATP finals. However, the 19-year-old has an admirable resilience mindset and fearless approach, which he spoke about after battling back from 2-5 down in the first set of his semifinal.
This is a tough call, as Sonego has been playing exceptionally well at this tournament. I’ll lean towards Michelsen just because I feel he’s got so much potential to play better than he did in his last three matches, and on the eve of his 20th birthday, a first ATP title should be enough motivation to serve as a gift.