Served with Andy Roddick — Episode Summary

Episode: Alex Michelsen Joins The Show, ATP Stars Stranded in Dubai, & More
Date: March 3, 2026
Host: Andy Roddick with regular co-hosts (Jon Wertheim, Mike, Sean, JW)
Guest: Alex Michelsen

Episode Overview

This episode blends tennis culture, current ATP/women’s tour storylines, and a lively, candid interview with rising American tennis star Alex Michelsen. The group dives into recent events, including dramatic geopolitical developments stranding top ATP players in Dubai, the evolving significance of college tennis, and quirky tennis stats—their banter punctuated by warmth, self-deprecating humor, and behind-the-scenes insights. Michelsen’s segment stands out for its authenticity, humor, and practical wisdom on young pros’ journeys.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recent Tennis Headlines: College Success & Homecomings (02:44–08:22)

• Peyton Stearns’ Austin Win: Celebration of homecoming triumphs in tennis—winning where you went to school.
  • “Peyton Stearns winning in Austin over Taylor Townsend. I love Taylor Townsend, but cool story. Go to a little university in Austin. Go win the tournament at Westwood. That's where I used to practice.” (02:49)
• Comparison to stars like Federer (Basel), McEnroe (Queens), and Naomi Osaka’s win in Osaka.
• Taylor Townsend’s Breakthrough: First tour semifinal, discussion of her career resilience.
  • “First time she had made a tour semifinal, which is crazy to me, because every time I watch Taylor play, I just think she's so good.” (05:20)
• Townsend’s “chip on her shoulder” and underdog mentality featured via soundbite:
  • Taylor Townsend (clip):
    • “I’m creating a legacy for myself and, you know, doing it my way...everyone that's talk shit, they got to eat their words. So, I’m still standing…I hope they buckle up.” (06:03)

2. ATP Tour News: Medvedev’s Unique Record & Dubai Crisis (08:22–27:30)

• Francis Tiafoe & Rankings: Banter on milestone “cracking” rankings.
  • “At what ranking are you not allowed to say 'cracks the top'?” (09:07)
• Daniil Medvedev’s Statistical Quirk: His first ever successful title defense—23rd title, but first repetition in the same city.
  • “He had previously won 21 titles in 21 different cities. Never repeated in one city…First time he had ever won a tournament again in the same city.” (11:01–11:38)
• Medvedev’s Hall of Fame Case:
  • "23 titles, including a major and all different surfaces. This is a really elite career. Hall of Fame’s a lock for Meddy." (13:32–15:36)

Notable Quote — Tennis Stat Madness

"My favorite statistic in all of tennis is no more...He had previously won 21 titles in 21 different cities. Never repeated in one city. 22 titles in 20—a lot of titles in a lot of cities..."
— Andy Roddick, (11:01)

3. ATP Players Stranded in Dubai: Tennis Meets Geopolitics (16:56–27:30)

• Crisis Overview: ~40 ATP players/coaches/staff are stuck in a hotel in Dubai after airspace is shut during ongoing Middle East tensions.
  • "ATP is closely monitoring the evolving situation...health and safety and well being of our players, staff and tournament personnel is our priority." (18:05)
  • “They and their teams are being accommodated in tournament’s official hotels…awaiting an evacuation plan.” (19:30)
  • Medvedev’s Response: Calm in crisis:
    • “As strange as it sounds, on the court I’m very emotional, but in real life…it might actually help…For me everything is normal.” (18:39)
• Human Perspective:
  • “For some reason…if there’s anything I encourage our audience to do…pretend like you know the people and see if that affects the way that you take in information.” (22:29–23:58)
  • "The least important part of any global conflict is millionaire tennis players that are slightly uncomfortable...But in comparison to most people...most people can't clear the border and get on a jet." (24:09–24:20)
• Effect on Indian Wells draw: ATP will not penalize stranded players with a “zero” round loss if they can’t play.

Notable Quote — Empathy Check

“When you hear something and read something…just pretend like you know the people. Maybe it’ll hit the way it should hit, in my opinion.”
— Andy Roddick, (23:58)

FEATURE INTERVIEW: Alex Michelsen (29:14–50:56)

1. The Journey: From College Debates to ATP Breakthrough

• Background & Decision Not to Attend College:

  • Parents emphasized education. Until he made a big ranking jump (from 250→140 ATP), he was still torn.
  • "My dad's a lawyer, my mom a teacher...they really wanted me to go to school...I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed in the classroom...then I won a challenger and finaled Newport...it was kind of a no-brainer." (00:49, 32:00)

• Unique Upbringing:

  • Grew up in California, describes the SoCal tennis culture as "laid back".
  • Practiced with his parents every day until 15.

• Late Bloomer:

  • "I was a very average junior before COVID...wasn't great. I lost a lot of matches. Trust me, I wasn't that good as a junior." (38:32)

2. Pathway Levels: Juniors, Challengers & Tour Realities

• Levels Explained:

  • Progression from juniors, to junior Slams, to Futures (“playing for a McDonald’s gift card”), to Challengers, then the ATP Tour.
  • “Everyone’s just…clawing at you in the Futures and Challengers…then you get on tour and all these guys…know how to beat me. It just gets higher and higher…physically, mentally, tennis-wise.” (35:51)

• Key Quality — Handling Pressure Points:

  • “The guys in the top hundred play the pressure points unbelievable…every time I’m playing a guy that’s really good and I have a break point, they’re making a first serve 80% of the time.” (37:58)

3. Unconventional Style: Natural Lefty Playing Right-Handed

• Why Right-Handed?

  • Started hitting right-handed backhands at age 3. Tried to switch to lefty at 6, threatened to quit tennis unless kept right-handed.
  • “If you switch me to left, I’m quitting tennis. Apparently I said that…and my brother had just quit tennis. So they left it. They definitely tried…” (41:11)

• Humorous Self-Reflection:

  • “My backhand was sick. My backhand’s always been really good. But my serve and forehand were horrendous…I couldn’t put a ball on the court on my forehand side because I’m left-hand dominant and I’m playing right-handed…because I’m really smart.” (39:30)

4. Rivalry & Camaraderie: Lerner Tien and the ATP Friend Group

• On the Tien Rivalry:
  • Lifelong training partner, matches crisscross as their games develop.
  • "We're definitely going like this since we were 12, just kind of going on top of each other...We love each other, but we definitely want to beat each other every time we go out there." (44:39)
  • Michelsen up 3-1 in head-to-head ("3:1, baby!") (45:27)
• Motivating Each Other:
  • “He was like, ‘dude, you finaled your first challenger?’...But you kind of just level up...when I made third round Aussie, he was like, ‘dude, you’re so good.’" (46:28)

5. Indian Wells, Clippers Fandom, and Life Off-Tour

• “Hometown Tournament” Myths:
  • “I went [to Indian Wells] once when I was eight…I was always playing tournaments.” (48:00)
• Room in Childhood Home:
  • Interviewed from his childhood bedroom, decorated with posters—still sleeps in a small bed, "have to sleep diagonally to fit."
• Clippers over Lakers:
  • "I’m a Clippers guy...everyone already likes Lakers, you know, they don’t need another fan. So yeah, Clippers. I’m just two strikes down, Clippers fan, playing right handed. What’s going to be the third strike?" (43:29)

6. Laver Cup (“Best Week of My Life”) & Agassi

• Playing for Andre Agassi:
  • “That was one of the best weeks of my entire life, seeing him there...he was so...he wanted us to win so bad...you could see the matches, he was pretty tight, but like in a good way...just seeing him there, how can you not get inspired?” (49:11)

Memorable Quotes

• On handling tennis pressure:

  "The guys in the top hundred play the pressure points unbelievable...they’re a lot more clutch."
  — Alex Michelsen (37:58)

• On late-bloomer status:

  "Trust me, I wasn’t that good as a junior."
  — Alex Michelsen (38:44)

• On lefty-righty dilemma:

  “If you switched me to left, I’m quitting tennis. Apparently, I said that.”
  — Alex Michelsen (41:11)

• On friendship with Lerner Tien:

  "We're definitely going like this since we were 12, just kind of going on top of each other...We love each other, but we definitely want to beat each other every time."
  — Alex Michelsen (44:39)

Tennis Evolution: Ambidextrous Youngster Teo Davidov (53:21–56:58)

• Highlight: 15-year-old Teo Davidov—fully ambidextrous, hitting forehands on both sides and serving with both hands.
  • "The twist is he’s fully ambidextrous...hitting two forehands depending on what side." (53:36–54:01)
• Discussion: Is this sustainable at pro pace? Serving with both arms considered possibly game-changing.
  • "The serving thing is really interesting...imagine having a baseball player who could pitch equally well right handed, left handed. That is potentially game changing." (55:04)

Closing Thoughts

• Return to Human Stakes: Hopes for safe evacuation of players/staff stranded in Dubai.
  • "Hopefully there's a way to get out sooner than later and tennis paradise awaits..." (57:02)
• Vibe on Alex Michelsen:
  • "He's great...doesn't seem like he's going to overcomplicate it...just love his whole vibe." (52:22–52:24)

Useful Timestamps

• Taylor Townsend Clip: 06:03
• Medvedev Title Quirk: 11:01–11:38
• Dubai Crisis Breakdown: 16:56–24:20
• Alex Michelsen Interview Begins: 29:14
• Michelsen on College/Pro Crossover: 32:00, 33:01
• Michelsen on Lefty/Righty Switch: 41:11
• Laver Cup/Agassi: 49:11
• Ambidextrous Tennis Talk: 53:36–56:58

Summary Takeaways

• Tennis culture reflects larger world unpredictability—from surprising breakthroughs to global crises, tennis mirrors life.
• Alex Michelsen embodies the new American “chill” on tour: self-aware, practical, rooted in family, and still climbing.
• Tour life’s hierarchy is more cutthroat and nuanced than it appears.
• Tennis’ next technical leap could be ambidextrous players—but execution at speed remains an open question.
• Don’t trust everything on the ATP website regarding player stats and bios (!)

Tone: The episode is witty, candid, and insightful, with Andy Roddick’s self-effacing humor and openness setting the stage for honest discussions about pressures, oddities, and the humanity behind the headlines. Alex Michelsen brings an unfiltered, relatable view of what it’s like to be a rising American pro today.