Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered his worst Australian Open loss since 2018! The 2023 finalist faced the young American Alex Michelsen in the first round in Melbourne and experienced a 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 loss in two hours and 43 minutes.
The American claimed four points more than the Greek. The younger player took the pivotal points and earned his first top-20 victory at Majors. Stefanos had a mediocre run for his standards in 2024. He wished for a better start of 2025 at his favorite Major.
However, he struggled to follow the rival's pace at John Cain Arena and fell in the opening match in Melbourne for the first time in seven years!
Little separated them between the first and second serve, and also in winners and unforced errors. Michelsen created more break chances, converting five of 12 and dropping serve four times. Stefanos claimed 11 points more in the quickest segment up to four strokes.
However, Alex took charge in the mid-range and most advanced ones, taming his strokes more efficiently and earning a notable victory. Both players found the rhythm behind the initial shot at the beginning of the duel, providing 11 comfortable holds.
Tsitsipas served to stay in the set at 5-6 and faced issues. He missed a volley at the net and offered his rival a set point. Michelsen seized it with a backhand down the line winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel 7-5 in 39 minutes.
Alex served well in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side. The American held after deuces in the fifth game and made a push on the return in game eight. Stefanos wasted a game point and played a terrible forehand on the second break point to fall 5-3 behind.
Michelsen served for the set in game nine and held at love with a forced error, opening two sets to love advantage in an hour and 17 minutes. Tsitsipas earned his first break of the match in the fourth game of the third set after the rival's wayward forehand.
The Greek saved two break points in the seventh game and wrapped up the set with another break at 5-2. He landed a forehand down the line winner on a set point and forced the fourth set after two hours and one minute.
Instead of building on that, the Greek played a loose forehand in the first game to experience a break. He pulled it back in the sixth game after the rival's double fault, returning to the positive side. They traded more breaks in games seven and eight.
Tsitsipas squandered a game point at 4-4 and played against three breakpoints. He hit a costly double fault on the last, falling 5-4 behind and allowing Michelsen to serve for the win. The American fired a service winner on a match point to seal the deal and topple a seeded rival.
