Q&A: 2026 French Open Finalist Michael Antonius

Not afraid to duke it out on the dirt.

Less than a year after capturing the boys’ 18s singles title at the USTA National Clay Court Championships, Buffalo N.Y.’s Michael Antonius slid into another deep run on the surface on an even more prestigious stage, reaching the boys’ singles final at the 2026 French Open. 

And he scored some major upsets in the process, no less. En route to the championship match, Antonius—seeded No. 13—collected straight-set wins over No. 2 seed and home favorite Yannick Theodor Alexandrescou (Round of 16), No. 5 seed Ziga Sesko of Slovenia (quarterfinals) and No. 6 seed and compatriot Keaton Hance (semifinals). (Top seed Luis Guto Miguel of Brazil ultimately defeated the American in the final, 6-3, 6-4.)

It’s another strong result in what has been a big year overall for the 16-year-old, who in March became the youngest American ever to win an ITF men’s singles title when he lifted the trophy at the USTA Pro Circuit M25 event in Bakersfield, Calif. We chatted with Antonius about his incredible week in Paris, his development as a player in Buffalo and why he doesn’t fear the clay season.

Congratulations on reaching the final at Roland Garros! Now that you’ve had a little time, how are you feeling about your experience overall? 

ANTONIUS: It was an amazing tournament and definitely a moment to remember in my career. Now, a couple of days after the tournament, I'm feeling really proud of myself for an amazing week. It’s something to both be proud of and build on. Obviously, it was a tough match in the final, but there were many positive outcomes. The main takeaway is that my level is high enough and that I have what it takes to play at a junior grand slam final or at the next level. The loss is also a reminder that I still need to keep working hard and improving.

You reached the final without dropping a set and never lost more than six games in any matches prior to the championship. You beat three higher-ranked opponents, including the No. 2 seed, and won 12 of the last 13 games against the No. 5 seed in the quarterfinals. What was clicking for you over the course of the tournament? What do you think you were doing well? 

ANTONIUS: I took each match one at a time and did not look ahead which definitely helped. The mental aspect of my game was key. There were a lot of great players and great competitors in this tournament. I felt like I stayed so solid mentally throughout the matches. My forehand was effective as well. 

What would you say was your most challenging match en route to the final? 

ANTONIUS: It was probably my Round of 16 match against Yannick [Alexandrescou]. He represents France, and playing in front of a large French crowd was crazy and one of the coolest atmospheres I've ever played in. The crowd was going wild for him, but I was able to handle my nerves well and pull off the win.

For those who aren’t familiar with your game, how would you describe your playing style overall?

ANTONIUS: I'm mainly an aggressive baseliner who also emphasizes consistency. I don't go for [anything] too flashy. Instead I try to focus on [sticking with the right tactics] throughout a match and staying strong mentally. 

To that point, checking out a couple of your matches over the course of your run at the French Open, I noticed that you stayed pretty positive throughout. You didn’t get too down on yourself after losing big points or getting broken, and generally you gave yourself positive reinforcement or just took a practice swing after missing a shot. How do you work on the mental aspects of your game? 

ANTONIUS: Staying mentally solid has always been a part of my approach to playing tennis. On court I just try to stay very neutral. Obviously, that helped me a lot during the French….I tried not to allow myself any mental lapses. That's something that I continue working on because I always know I can get better.

You’ve also had success on the ITF men’s circuit this year, having recently become the youngest American ever to win an ITF men's singles title. What would you say are the biggest differences between competing in junior events versus men’s events? 

ANTONIUS: The main difference is really the physicality of the game, which is something I have worked on a lot. Everything speeds up a little, and players will take advantage of mistakes much quicker. Although it has been an adjustment, it has been a great experience playing futures and challenger-level tournaments.   

These days you train at the USTA National Campus, but you got your start in Buffalo training at the Miller Tennis Center. What did you learn as part of your development in Buffalo that still remains a part of your game today?

ANTONIUS: I really think my tenacious and gritty approach to playing tennis, and my focus on mental toughness, are things that started in Buffalo. Training in Florida and at the USTA National Campus for over three years has also allowed me to further improve these aspects, while also elevating other parts of my game, such as my serve, ground strokes and my physical strengths.  

Tennis never stops. Are you looking forward to the grass season?

ANTONIUS: I'm definitely looking forward to the grass season! I played Junior Wimbledon U14 two years ago and I really loved playing on the grass. It was an amazing experience. For the rest of the year, I'm also planning on playing the juniors at the US Open, as well as some more futures and challenger-level professional events. I'm really looking forward to those too.