 At the start of 2016, Michael changed his mind and started his 17th season on tour.At the 2016 Open Sud de France, he beat world number 38 Borna Ćorić 7–6, 6–2 and Kenny de Schepper 6–3, 6–4 to reach a quarterfinal, where he lost to another young gun a countryman Alexander Zverev 7–6, 2–6, 5–7.