New Delhi: American Alex Michelsen defeated former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Monday to produce the first big upset of the 2025 Australian Open.
Unseeded Michelsen stunned the 2023 finalist Greek to march into the second round in two hours and 43 minutes, marking the World No. 42’s biggest win till date.
Michelsen registered 46 winners in winning for the first time against a top-20 opponent at a Grand Slam, unleashing fearless display of powerful serving and booming groundstrokes.
“I just tried to stay super composed out there. I knew it was going to be a battle in the end. The serve sort of let me down a little in the fourth (set) but I’m super happy I could get through it,” he said after the win.
“But it was all about the mindset. I came in with the proper mindset and executed the game plan.”
Coin collector, fiesta lover, tennis player – Alex Michelsen 😂#AO2025 #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/xnagMctPr3
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
Tsitsipas’ slide
It is only the second time that Michelsen is featuring at the Australian Open, having defeated James McCabe and No.32 seed Jiri Lehecka to reach the third round at Melbourne Park last year.
In his sixth Grand Slam, the 20-year-old next faces Australian wildcard James McCabe or Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce in the second round.
The win, his second consecutive against Tsitsipas having beaten him in Tokyo last year, will help Michelsen rise to career-high No. 41 in the ATP rankings.
Tsitsipas emerged as one of the emerging stars of tennis when he reached the Australian Open semi-finals in 2019, 2021 and 2022 but has now failed to reach beyond the second round in his past three majors, getting beaten in the second round at Wimbledon and the first round of the US Open last year.
Alex Michelsen defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 to produce the first big upset of the 2025 Australian Open. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
