
In a stunning turn of events, Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek tennis star, was knocked out of the Australian Open in the first round by American Alex Michelsen. The match, which ended 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, marked a significant upset as Tsitsipas, the 11th seed, became the first big name to fall at Melbourne Park.
Tsitsipas, who reached the final of the Australian Open in 2023, admitted that his loss was a tough pill to swallow. “It seemed like I was hungrier in a completely different way than I am now,” he said, reflecting on his mindset and approach to the game. The 26-year-old, who has been struggling with consistency since his career-high ranking of three, acknowledged that his competitive nature sometimes works against him.
The match against Michelsen was a rollercoaster of emotions. Tsitsipas started strong, taking the first set to a tiebreak and winning it. However, Michelsen’s composed play and effective net game turned the tide in the second set, which he won comfortably. Tsitsipas fought back in the third set, but Michelsen’s resilience and powerful serves ultimately sealed the victory in the fourth set.
Tsitsipas’s frustration was evident as he smashed his racket on his kit bag during the match. “It’s frustrating because I know I have the capability to perform better,” he said. “I just need to find that hunger and drive that I had in the past.”
The loss is a blow to Tsitsipas, who was hoping for a fresh start in 2025 after a challenging 2024 season. Despite his early exit, Tsitsipas remains optimistic about his future. “I need to use this as motivation to come back stronger,” he said. “I have to find that fire again and bring it to every match.”
As Tsitsipas looks ahead, he knows that regaining his form and confidence will be crucial for his return to the top ranks of tennis. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if he can rediscover the hunger that once drove him to the finals of Grand Slam tournaments.
Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2025
Now ranked no.11, the Greek played his last match on the 13th of January when he was defeated by world no.41 Alex Michelsen 7-5 6-3 2-6 6-4 in the 1st round of the Australian Open (draw).
This year the Greek achieved a compiled 1-2 win-loss record.