Just before the start of the Australian Open 2025, Stefanos Tsitsipas withdrew from the doubles competition at Melbourne Park alongside brother Petros Tsitsipas. (Full Coverage | More Tennis News)
The move, however, backfired when United States’ Alex Michelsen produced one of his career-best performances to down Tsitsipas 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Monday (January 13) to progress into the second round of the 2025 Australian Open.
The 20-year-old played some fearless, aggressive tennis that turned out to be really fruitful as he kept the Greek on the backfoot for most of the four sets.
The first-round triumph, however, did not come without drama, as he made three double faults in the fourth set to give Tsitsipas two breaks.
However, the 26-year-old, who was struggling for rhythm, double-faulted on break point at five-all which proved to be decisive.
“It’s quite ironic. My whole [idea] was to try to go deep into the Australian Open. I knew the first thing I had to consider was not playing doubles (with brother Petros). I guess karma hit me. I was not able to deliver or play the way I was hoping to at this year's event. The whole purpose was just to save up on some energy and be fresher hopefully in the deeper draw of the tournament," Tsitsipas was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour after his first-round loss.
The Australian Open has been a happy slam for Tsitsipas, who made the final in 2023 as well as three semi-finals. He had his breakthrough season in 2019, when he upset Roger Federer to make the semi-finals of the event.
Tsitsipas now has not made it past the second round in his last three Grand Slams, losing in the second and first round at Wimbledon and the US Open respectively.
