Australian Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas falls to Alex Michelsen in R1!

Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered his worst Australian Open loss since 2018! The 2023 finalist confronted the younger American Alex Michelsen within the first spherical in Melbourne and skilled a 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 loss in two hours and 43 minutes. 

The American claimed 4 factors greater than the Greek. The youthful participant took the pivotal factors and earned his first top-20 victory at Majors. Stefanos had a mediocre run for his requirements in 2024. He wished for a greater begin of 2025 at his favourite Main. 

Nonetheless, he struggled to observe the rival’s tempo at John Cain Enviornment and fell within the opening match in Melbourne for the primary time in seven years! 

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Little separated them between the primary and second serve, and likewise in winners and unforced errors. Michelsen created extra break probabilities, changing 5 of 12 and dropping serve 4 instances. Stefanos claimed 11 factors extra within the quickest section as much as 4 strokes.

Nonetheless, Alex took cost within the mid-range and most superior ones, taming his strokes extra effectively and incomes a notable victory. Each gamers discovered the rhythm behind the preliminary shot firstly of the duel, offering 11 snug holds. 

Alex Michelsen, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Tsitsipas served to remain within the set at 5-6 and confronted points. He missed a volley on the web and supplied his rival a set level. Michelsen seized it with a backhand down the road winner, wrapping up the primary a part of the duel 7-5 in 39 minutes. 

Alex served nicely within the second set and saved the stress on the opposite facet. The American held after deuces within the fifth sport and made a push on the return in sport eight. Stefanos wasted a sport level and performed a horrible forehand on the second break level to fall 5-3 behind. 

Michelsen served for the set in sport 9 and held at love with a pressured error, opening two units to like benefit in an hour and 17 minutes. Tsitsipas earned his first break of the match within the fourth sport of the third set after the rival’s wayward forehand. 

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The Greek saved two break factors within the seventh sport and wrapped up the set with one other break at 5-2. He landed a forehand down the road winner on a set level and compelled the fourth set after two hours and one minute.

As a substitute of constructing on that, the Greek performed a free forehand within the first sport to expertise a break. He pulled it again within the sixth sport after the rival’s double fault, returning to the optimistic facet. They traded extra breaks in video games seven and eight. 

Tsitsipas squandered a sport level at 4-4 and performed in opposition to three break factors. He hit a expensive double fault on the final, falling 5-4 behind and permitting Michelsen to serve for the win. The American fired a service winner on a match level to seal the deal and topple a seeded rival.