Michelsen knocks out Basel finalist Lehecka to set up Alcaraz clash in Paris

Alex Michelsen of the United States came from a set down to beat Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in 2 hours 19 minutes in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday. The American, ranked No. 35, will face second seed Carlos Alcaraz in the second round on Wednesday.

Lehecka, ranked No. 15, lost the Basel final to Valentin Vacherot 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday. The defeat also ends his slim hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals: 15th in the Race to Turin, he needed the title in Paris to stay in contention.

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Alcaraz, who had a first-round bye, beat Lehecka in the Tokyo final last month. The Spaniard has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in Paris.

Rolex Paris Masters 2026 first-round results

Lorenzo Musetti d. Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10)
Luca Van Assche d. Mariano Navone 6-3, 7-5
Learner Tien (15) d. Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (LL) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
Novak Djokovic (10) d. Valentin Vacherot 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-1
Rinky Hijikata (Q) d. Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2
Tomas Martin Etcheverry d. Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3)
Cameron Norrie d. Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Mattia Bellucci (Q) d. Lorenzo Sonego (Q) 6-4, 6-3
Arthur Rinderknech d. Francisco Cerundolo (16) 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-0 ret.
Tommy Paul (12) d. Holger Rune (PR) 7-5, 6-4
Daniel Merida d. Sebastian Baez (LL) 6-4, 6-2
Quentin Halys d. Arthur Fery 7-6 (6), 7-5
Jan-Lennard Struff (SE) vs Arthur Gea (WC) (Tuesday)
Casper Ruud d. Juan Manuel Cerundolo (Q) 6-3, 6-2
Rafael Jodar (9) d. Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-3
Nuno Borges (LL) d. Moise Kouame (WC) 6-3, 6-1
Karen Khachanov d. Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-7 (6), 1-4 ret.
Ignacio Buse d. Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-4
Tomas Machac (Q) d. Kyrian Jacquet (WC) 7-6 (7), 6-1
Alex Molcan (Q) d. Titouan Droguet (WC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Taylor Fritz (11) d. Benjamin Bonzi (Q) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Matteo Berrettini d. Brandon Nakashima (14) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8)
Ugo Humbert d. Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6 (5), 6-7 (9), 6-3
Alex Michelsen d. Jiri Lehecka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4

In bold: today’s results.