Alexandre Müller
Alexandre Müller is a French professional tennis player known for his right-handed game and preference for clay courts, who turned professional in 2014 and achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 38 on August 18, 2025.[1][2] Born on February 1, 1997, in Poissy, France, Müller stands at 1.83 meters tall and began playing tennis at age six, making his ATP Tour debut via a wild card at the 2017 French Open.[3][4] Müller's breakthrough came in 2023 when he reached his first ATP final at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakesh, securing his entry into the top 100 rankings for the first time.[5] In 2025, he marked significant progress by winning his maiden ATP title at the Hong Kong Open and advancing to his first ATP 500 final at the Rio Open, which contributed to his career-high ranking and elevated his year-to-date prize money earnings to over €1.4 million.[1] His best performance at a Masters 1000 event is a fourth-round appearance at the Italian Open, while in Grand Slams, he has reached the second round multiple times, including at the 2024 French Open and Wimbledon.[5] As of November 2025, Müller holds the No. 42 position in the ATP singles rankings and No. 263 in doubles, with a career prize money total exceeding €3.5 million.[1][4][2]Early life and junior career
Early life
Alexandre Müller was born on 1 February 1997 in Poissy, a suburb in the Yvelines department near Paris, France, to French parents Stefan and Virginie Müller.[3] His father worked for BNP Paribas, while his mother was employed as a mortgage recovery agent, and the family later welcomed a son, Julien, as Müller's brother.[3] Growing up in the Paris region, Müller showed early interest in sports, initially excelling more at football than tennis, but his family's support steered him toward the latter.[3] When Müller was six years old, his family relocated to Meyrargues, a small village in Provence near Marseille, where their new home featured an old hard court in the garden that became central to his introduction to tennis.[6] He began taking informal lessons and playing regularly with his father on this court around that age, fostering his initial passion for the sport through family involvement rather than formal club training at first.[3] This home environment provided a low-pressure setting for Müller to develop basic skills, eventually leading him to local clubs in the region as he progressed.[7] Physically, Müller stands at 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) tall and plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand, characteristics that were evident from his youth as he built a solid foundation on the court.[1] By his early teens, these attributes supported his transition into more structured junior competitive play.[7]Junior career
Müller began his competitive junior career around the age of 12, when he started training at the French national tennis center in Paris.[3] At 15, he moved to the city full-time to advance his development under professional guidance.[3] His junior phase emphasized building foundational skills through national circuits, with limited international exposure on the ITF Junior Circuit. He transitioned to professional tennis in 2014 at age 17, entering early ITF Futures events to gain competitive experience.[1]Professional career
2014–2016: Early professional years and ITF success
Müller turned professional in 2014 at age 17, immediately entering the ITF Men's World Tennis Tour to begin accumulating professional experience.[1] In his debut year, he participated in multiple ITF Futures tournaments across Europe, such as events in France and Belgium, but did not advance beyond the round of 16 in singles and recorded no titles in either singles or doubles.[8] These early matches helped him transition from junior tennis, though his ranking remained outside the top 1000 at year's end.[2] Müller's 2015 season focused on building consistency in ITF Futures, where he reached at least one final and multiple semifinals, including a runner-up finish in a European event.[9] He made his first ATP Challenger appearance at the St. Remy de Provence Challenger, losing in the first round to Vincent Millot.[9] No titles were won that year, but the experience contributed to a year-end singles ranking of No. 695.[2] The 2016 season represented a significant step forward, with Müller securing his first professional singles titles on the ITF circuit. In July, he won the Macedonia F2 Futures in Struga, defeating wild card Dimitar Grabuloski 6–2, 6–4 in the final.[10] Four months later, in November, he claimed the Cyprus F2 Futures title in Larnaca, overcoming top seed Lucas Miedler 6–2, 6–2.[11] He also captured three ITF doubles titles, partnering with players like Jonathan Kanar and Tom Vaisse.[12] Beyond titles, Müller tested himself in higher-level events, reaching the quarterfinals of the St. Remy de Provence Challenger before a 6–0, 6–0 loss to eventual champion Daniil Medvedev, highlighting areas for improvement against rising talents.[12] These achievements propelled his singles ranking to a year-end position of No. 393.[2]2017–2019: Grand Slam debut
Müller made his Grand Slam debut at the 2017 French Open, entering the main draw via a wildcard before falling in the first round to Thiago Monteiro in straight sets.[13] Throughout 2017 and 2018, Müller transitioned to higher-level competition by entering ATP Challenger Tour events, where he recorded his initial victories, including a win over Steven Diez in the Liberec Challenger in August 2018.[14] His performances during this period highlighted growing proficiency on clay courts across European tournaments, evidenced by a 34–20 win-loss record on the surface in 2018. In 2019, Müller qualified for his second Grand Slam main draw at the French Open, defeating Peter Polansky in the final round of qualifying before losing in the first round to Roberto Carballés Baena, 4–6, 4–6.[15] He also began making deeper runs in Challenger singles draws that year, contributing to a year-end ATP ranking of No. 235, a significant improvement from No. 364 at the end of 2018.[2] Müller showed early promise in doubles during this era, partnering in several Challenger events and reaching the quarterfinals in select tournaments, such as the 2018 Liberec Challenger.[14]2020–2021: First Grand Slam win and top 200 entry
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the 2020 tennis schedule, with the ATP Challenger Tour suspended from March to August, limiting opportunities for lower-ranked players like Müller to accumulate points. He played sparingly that year, competing in a handful of ITF World Tennis Tour events and Challengers, where he recorded a 21-13 overall win-loss record, including 15-9 on the ITF circuit and 3-2 in Challengers, but without securing any titles. Entering 2021, Müller made his breakthrough at the Australian Open, where he entered the main draw as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying. In the first round, he defeated Juan Ignacio Londero 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-6(4) for his maiden Grand Slam victory, becoming the first lucky loser to win a match at the tournament since 1997.[16] He followed this by advancing to the second round before falling to ninth seed Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 6-0, 6-3.[17] This performance propelled his ranking into the top 200 for the first time, reaching a career-high of No. 194 on February 22, 2021.[18] Throughout 2021, Müller built on this momentum with consistent results on the ITF and Challenger circuits, posting a 16-15 record in ITF events and 6-7 in Challengers, highlighted by quarterfinal runs in tournaments like the Biella Challenger and semifinal appearances in ITF M15 events in Monastir and Antalya. He began making regular ATP qualifying appearances, including at the French Open where he reached the final round of qualifying but lost to Peter Gojowczyk 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.[15] These efforts solidified his entry into the top 200 by year's end, ending 2021 ranked No. 221 overall after a season win-loss of 27-31.[2]2022: First Challenger title and top 150 breakthrough
Müller entered the 2022 season with momentum from his top 200 breakthrough the previous year, focusing primarily on the ATP Challenger Tour to climb the rankings. He demonstrated consistency by reaching semifinals in four Challenger events throughout the year: the Bangalore Challenger in February, where he fell to Borna Gojo; the Trieste Challenger in July; the Cordenons Challenger in August; and the Rio de Janeiro Challenger in November, losing to Yannick Hanfmann in the latter. Additionally, he advanced to quarterfinals in Quimper, Aix-en-Provence, Lisbon, and Campinas, with most of these deep runs occurring on his preferred clay surface.[19] A pivotal moment came in June at the Blois Challenger on clay, where Müller claimed his maiden ATP Challenger title. In the final, he defeated Serbia's Nikola Milojević 7–6(3), 6–1, securing the win after saving a match point in his opening-round encounter against Luca Potenza. This victory, his first at the Challenger level after several near-misses, yielded 100 ranking points and marked a significant step in his professional development.[3] The Blois triumph propelled Müller into the ATP top 150 for the first time, debuting at No. 143 on July 11, 2022, and continuing to rise through the year with steady Challenger performances. He also gained experience in ATP event qualifiers, notably reaching the second round at the 2022 French Open qualifying, where he was defeated by Franco Agamenone, helping build confidence despite first-round exits in several other main draws he did not qualify for. By the end of 2022, Müller had solidified his position inside the top 150 at No. 109, setting the stage for further progress.[20][21]2023: First ATP final and top 100 debut
Müller began the 2023 season outside the top 150 but quickly made an impact during the clay-court swing. In April, he reached his first ATP Tour final at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakesh, defeating notable opponents including Richard Gasquet and Lorenzo Musetti en route to the championship match. There, he fell to Roberto Carballés Baena in three sets, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, after a competitive battle lasting over three hours.[22] This runner-up finish propelled Müller into the ATP top 100 for the first time, achieving a career-high ranking of No. 96 on April 10, 2023, following a strong clay season that included semifinal runs in earlier events like the Phoenix Challenger.[23][3] Building on this momentum, Müller made his debut in the main draw of an ATP Masters 1000 event at the Italian Open in Rome later that month. As a direct entrant, he advanced to the second round by defeating qualifier Kyle Edmund before losing to Cameron Norrie, 6-2, 6-3.[24] In June, Müller secured his second career Challenger title at the Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma, defeating Federico Gaio in the final, 6-1, 6-4, which further solidified his position in the top 100 and highlighted his affinity for clay courts.2024: First top 10 win and Masters fourth round
Müller achieved his first victory over a top-10 ranked player at the 2024 Italian Open, defeating world No. 7 Andrey Rublev in the second round, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, as a qualifier ranked No. 109.[25] This upset propelled him to the round of 16 at a Masters 1000 event for the first time, where he fell to Nicolás Jarry, 7-5, 6-3.[26] The run marked his best performance at a Masters 1000 tournament to date and highlighted his growing competitiveness on clay against elite opponents. Throughout the season, Müller demonstrated consistency on the ATP Tour, reaching the second round or better in several events, including the Auckland ATP 250 where he advanced to the quarterfinals as a qualifier.[27] On the Challenger circuit, he captured the San Marino Open title in August, defeating Chun-hsin Tseng in the final, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3), to secure his third Challenger crown.[28] These results contributed to a year-end ranking of No. 67, a significant improvement from his No. 109 position earlier in the year and building on his top-100 entry from 2023.[29] Müller's 2024 campaign also showcased enhanced performance on hard courts, where he compiled a 12-14 record, including notable wins in Auckland and early-round progress at events like the Miami Open. This development on a surface outside his preferred clay helped steady his ranking trajectory toward the top 50, reflecting broader tactical adaptability in his game.[30]2025: Maiden ATP title, ATP 500 final, and top 40 peak
Müller commenced the 2025 season with a breakthrough victory at the Hong Kong Open, securing his maiden ATP Tour title by defeating former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori in the final, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.[31] This hard-court triumph marked his first title at the ATP level after several near-misses in prior years, boosting his confidence entering the clay-court swing.[31] In February, Müller advanced to his first ATP 500 final at the Rio Open, where he overcame several strong opponents before falling to defending champion Sebastián Báez, 6-2, 6-3, in the championship match.[32] The run included a grueling three-set semifinal win over Francisco Comesaña, highlighting his improving endurance on clay.[33] This performance elevated him into the top 50 for the first time and solidified his status as a rising contender on South American surfaces.[33] These achievements, combined with consistent results throughout the year, propelled Müller to a career-high singles ranking of No. 38 on August 18, 2025.[1] By mid-year, he had established himself as the fifth-ranked French player nationally, behind compatriots like Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils.[34] The season underscored his transition to a reliable top-50 presence.Playing style and equipment
Playing style
Alexandre Müller employs a baseline-oriented playing style characterized by grinding consistency and quick footwork, allowing him to engage in prolonged rallies and wear down opponents over extended points. As a right-handed player with a two-handed backhand, he relies heavily on defensive solidity to transition into offensive opportunities, particularly excelling in retrieving shots and countering from difficult positions.[35][36] Müller's primary weapon is his two-handed backhand, which he hits flat and precisely, often described as laser-like for its penetrating quality and ability to produce winners from defensive situations. His forehand, while reliable, serves more as a setup shot, with Müller favoring the forehand pass as his standout stroke for finishing points from the baseline. On serve, he prioritizes placement over raw power, occasionally employing tactical underarm serves to disrupt rhythm, though his overall serving game supports his rally-based approach rather than dominating with aces. At the net, Müller makes selective approaches, typically following strong baseline shots to volley, but he is not a frequent serve-and-volley player.[3][36][35] Raised in France, Müller exhibits a clear preference for clay courts, where his endurance and sliding ability shine, aligning with his national background and leading to stronger performances on the surface compared to faster ones. He has demonstrated adaptability to hard courts through improved movement and shot selection in recent years, enabling breakthroughs in diverse conditions despite his stylistic roots in slower play. Standing at 183 cm (6 ft 0 in), his compact build aids his agility, contributing to effective court coverage across surfaces.[3][2][35]Equipment and coaching
Müller has been endorsed by Babolat for his racquet equipment since entering the professional circuit, utilizing the Babolat Pure Aero 100 model, which features a 100 square inch head size and is designed for spin generation and power suited to his baseline-oriented game. He likely strings his racquet with Babolat RPM Blast polyester strings, a common choice among Babolat-sponsored players for their durability and control during extended rallies.[36] For apparel and footwear, Müller partners with the Spanish brand Joma Sport, wearing their performance line including shirts, shorts, and shoes, which provide lightweight support and breathability for clay and hard court surfaces.[37] In a notable departure from traditional tennis sponsorships, he signed a deal with OnlyFans in 2024, using the platform to generate additional income that supports his coaching and travel expenses, marking one of the sport's more unconventional partnerships.[3] As of November 2025, Müller's primary coach is Xavier Pujo, who has been working with him since 2020 and remained in that role through his breakthrough achievements, including Müller's first ATP title in 2025.[1] Pujo oversees Müller's daily training regimen, focusing on tactical development and physical conditioning to enhance his consistency on the ATP Tour.[38] Prior to Pujo, Müller trained under various coaches during his junior and early ITF years, but no major changes have occurred since 2020, with Pujo also collaborating with fitness specialists to address endurance needs without a dedicated separate trainer publicly noted.[39]Personal life
Health challenges
Alexandre Müller was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder, at the age of 14 during his early teenage years.[6] The condition severely disrupted his burgeoning tennis career, prompting his doctor to advise against pursuing professional sports due to its potential to exacerbate symptoms.[40] In response, Müller took a two-month break from training and relied on cortisone treatments to stabilize his health before resuming play.[40] This early setback paused his development, but he gradually rebuilt his fitness and routine to accommodate the disease's demands on his training and recovery.[41] To manage the lifelong condition, Müller administers bi-weekly self-injections, a regimen he must maintain indefinitely.[40] He has openly discussed the challenges, stating, "I need to do an injection to myself every two weeks, all my life. So it's not that easy, but I'm trying to manage it. Sometimes I’m feeling quite bad."[40] These flare-ups have occasionally affected his preparation for tournaments, requiring careful monitoring of his physical state to avoid withdrawals or reduced performance.[42] Despite this, Müller has demonstrated remarkable resilience, emphasizing mental focus by noting, "I think the most important thing is that I need to enjoy the moment."[40] Müller's ability to sustain top-level competition amid these health obstacles has been widely admired, enabling breakthroughs such as his maiden ATP title and a career-high top-40 ranking in 2025.[41] Fellow player Novak Djokovic, ahead of their first-round match at Wimbledon in 2025, expressed sympathy and praise, calling it "remarkable that they manage to cope with such serious health challenges and remain at the top."[41] Through disciplined management and a positive outlook, Müller has turned his health struggles into a testament to perseverance in professional tennis.[40]Other personal details
Müller was born in Poissy, a suburb of Paris, and moved to the city proper at age 15 to train at the French national tennis center, establishing deep roots in the Paris-area tennis scene and the broader French tennis community.[3] This relocation allowed him to immerse himself in France's robust tennis infrastructure, where he continues to reside and maintain close connections with fellow French players and coaches.[7] Outside of tennis, Müller enjoys playing golf during his off days, often with his girlfriend and coach, and follows other sports such as football, though he avoids playing the latter to prevent injuries.[43] He has also shared his passion for music, frequently appearing at tournaments with headphones as a way to unwind.[44] As the No. 5-ranked French singles player in November 2025, Müller takes pride in representing his country through his rising success on the ATP Tour, contributing to the visibility of French tennis internationally.[45] Beyond equipment sponsors like Babolat, he has secured off-court endorsements, including a notable partnership with OnlyFans that supports his training and coaching expenses.[46]Career statistics
Singles performance timeline
The following tables summarize Alexandre Müller's singles results in major ATP tournaments throughout his career. Notations used: A = did not participate in the tournament; Q# = reached the # round of qualifying; 1R = first round; 2R = second round; 3R = third round; 4R = fourth round; QF = quarterfinals; SF = semifinals; F = finalist; W = winner. Data is sourced from official tournament records.[47]Grand Slam tournaments
| Year | Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2R | A | A | A |
| 2022 | A | 1R | A | A |
| 2023 | Q2 | 1R | 2R | 1R |
| 2024 | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R |
| 2025 | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R |
ATP Masters 1000 tournaments
| Year | Indian Wells | Miami | Monte Carlo | Madrid | Rome | Canada | Cincinnati | Shanghai | Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2023 | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | A | A |
| 2024 | A | A | 2R | A | 4R | A | A | 3R | A |
| 2025 | A | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | A | A | A | A |
ATP 500 and 250 series, Olympics, and Davis Cup
Müller's best results in ATP 500 and 250 events, as well as any participation in the Olympics and Davis Cup, are summarized below by year. He has not qualified for the Olympics main draw to date. Davis Cup appearances include limited matches for France, primarily in qualifiers.[48][47]- 2021: No main draw ATP 250/500 results; Davis Cup: Absent.
- 2022: No main draw ATP 250/500 results; Davis Cup: Absent.
- 2023: Marrakech (250) – F; Davis Cup: Absent.
- 2024: Auckland (250) – QF; Olympics: Did not qualify; Davis Cup: Absent.
- 2025: Hong Kong (250) – W; Rio de Janeiro (500) – F; Hamburg (500) – QF; Davis Cup: Absent.
ATP Tour finals
Müller has competed in three ATP Tour singles finals as of November 2025, securing one title and finishing as runner-up twice.[49]| Year | Tournament | Level | Surface | Opponent | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Grand Prix Hassan II (Marrakech) | ATP 250 | Clay | Roberto Carballés Baena | Runner-up | 6–4, 6–7(3–7), 2–6 |
| 2025 | Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open | ATP 250 | Hard | Kei Nishikori | Winner | 2–6, 6–1, 6–3 |
| 2025 | Rio Open presented by Claro | ATP 500 | Clay | Sebastián Báez | Runner-up | 2–6, 3–6 |
Challenger and ITF finals
Müller has reached six ATP Challenger singles finals, securing three titles on clay courts, which have been instrumental in his rise through the rankings. His first title came in 2022 at the Oeiras Open in Portugal, where he defeated Nikola Milojević 7–6(7–3), 6–1. Later that year, he won the Internationaux de Tennis de Blois in France, again overcoming Milojević in the final. In 2023, he claimed his second title at the Montechiarugolo Challenger in Italy, beating Francesco Maestrelli 6–1, 6–4. His third title arrived in 2024 at the San Marino Open, where he outlasted Chun-Hsin Tseng 6–3, 4–6, 7–6(3) in a three-set battle.[51] He has also finished as runner-up three times in Challenger singles events. In February 2023, he lost to Aleksandar Kovacević 3–6, 6–4, 2–6 in the Waco final. In June 2024, he fell to Hugo Gaston in the Lyon final. His other runner-up finish was in Barcelona in 2021, where he was defeated by Dimitar Kuzmanov. These performances highlight Müller's consistency on clay, his preferred surface. In Challenger doubles, Müller has appeared in three finals, winning two titles. Partnering with Geoffrey Blancaneaux, he captured the 2022 Sanremo Challenger title on clay, defeating Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Gigante 4–6, 6–3, [11–9] in the final. His second doubles title came in 2023, though specific details on the event and opponent are noted in ATP records as part of his overall doubles success at this level. He finished as runner-up once in 2024.[3]| Tournament | Year | Surface | Opponent(s) | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oeiras Open | 2022 | Clay | Nikola Milojević | Win | 7–6(7–3), 6–1 |
| Blois Challenger | 2022 | Clay | Nikola Milojević | Win | 7–6(3), 6–1 |
| Waco Challenger | 2023 | Hard | Aleksandar Kovacević | Loss | 3–6, 6–4, 2–6 |
| Montechiarugolo Challenger | 2023 | Clay | Francesco Maestrelli | Win | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Lyon Challenger | 2024 | Clay | Hugo Gaston | Loss | 2–6, 6–1, 3–6 |
| San Marino Open | 2024 | Clay | Chun-Hsin Tseng | Win | 6–3, 4–6, 7–6(3) |
Wins against top 10 opponents
Alexandre Müller has achieved three victories over top 10-ranked opponents on the ATP Tour through November 2025, with each representing a significant upset given his ranking at the time. These wins occurred across clay and hard surfaces, showcasing his resilience in three-set matches against higher-seeded players. The table below details these encounters.| Opponent | Opponent Rank | Event | Surface | Round | Score | Müller's Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrey Rublev | 6 | Italian Open | Clay | R32 | 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 | 109 |
| Alexander Zverev | 3 | Hamburg Open | Clay | R16 | 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) | 40 |
| Karen Khachanov | 10 | China Open | Hard | R32 | 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 | 38 |