Valentin Vacherot and Alex Michelsen will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Delray Beach Open on Monday afternoon.
Vacherot made a name for himself last fall with a shocking run to the Shanghai Masters title backed up by a quarterfinal performance in Paris. This year, though, he is just 3-3 in three tournaments (Brisbane, Adelaide, and the Australian Open combined).
Michelsen is a rough first-round draw for the No. 6 seed. The 21-year-old American already boasts wins over Sebastian Korda, Learner Tien, and Grigor Dimitrov this season. Moreover, Michelsen generally plays his best tennis at home in the United States. All three of his ATP final appearances have come in the U.S. and he was a semifinalist 12 months ago in Delray Beach.
Pick: Michelsen in 3