​NEWPORT – The week’s surprises at the Cerity Partners Hall of Fame Open stretched into Saturday, July 11, as Adam Walton toppled the highest remaining seed in the ATP Challenger men’s singles field in a warm, sunlit affair on the grass at the Newport Casino. Walton captured the opening set in a tiebreak and then held firm to defeat Alex Michelsen 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the opening men’s semifinal, denying the No. 2 seed a third chance at a title and marking the first final appearance of Walton’s career.
The main draw of the Cerity Partners Hall of Fame Open began on Wednesday, July 8, after two days of rain, with more than 30 ATP and WTA matches spread across the precincts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Jacob Fearnley, having closed out Alexis Galarneau after a marathon semifinal, waited to see his fate against a stubborn opponent. Fearnley endured a flurry of double faults early on but steadied his resolve to push past Galarneau 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4, sealing the victory as he closed out the last four games of the contest.
In reflecting on the experience, Walton said, “You can see why it’s a Tour-level event. The facilities are unreal. The crowd, the atmosphere, the tournament staff—everything is unreal.” The day also featured the women’s singles WTA 125 draw, which progressed along the expected lines, with the second and third seeds advancing in straight sets. Tatjana Maria displayed her grass-court prowess in a commanding 6-2, 6-1 win over Mananchaya Sawangkaew, while Katie Volynets fought a bit more to secure a 6-3, 6-2 semifinal victory over Greet Minnen.
Michelsen’s struggles continued after he served for the opening set at 6-5, as Walton seized a break and then dominated the ensuing tiebreak, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Michelsen slammed his hat to the baseline after a backhand wide, and Walton finished the set with a deft half-volley on set point to take the early advantage in the match. “Got the break and obviously played a really good tiebreak,” Walton commented. “Winning a tiebreak in the first set is huge, and then I was able to carry that into the second set and hold on.”
Tatjana Maria also featured in the spotlight, underscoring the depth of the field. The main draw swung into full gear on Wednesday, July 8, with more than 30 ATP and WTA matches spread across the grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Michelsen’s double fault gave Walton a 4-1 lead in the second set, and the Australian was able to seal the result from there. Walton will be aiming to become the fifth Australian to win this tournament, and the first since Lleyton Hewitt in 2014. Michelsen came into the week hoping for a finals return after falling short against Adrian Mannarino in 2023 and Marcos Giron in 2024.
“I feel like I’m playing pretty good tennis, obviously,” Walton added. “I love playing in America. It’s probably my most comfortable venue.” The week’s drama at Newport promises more thrills as the tournament progresses toward its weekend conclusion.