The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas fails again in the starting round at the Australian Open. These are the facts of the second matchday at the Australian Open.
13.01.2025, 12:28
13.01.2025, 12:38
SDA
The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (ATP 11) lost 5:7, 3:6, 6:2, 4:6 to the up-and-coming Alex Michelsen (ATP 41) in 2:45 hours. The 20-year-old American celebrated his first victory over a top 20 player at a major tournament. However, Michelsen showed nerves in the end: in the fourth set, he twice squandered a break lead with four double faults. However, Tsitsipas also handed his opponent the decisive break at 5:4 in the fourth set with a double fault.
Stefanos Tsitsipas lost very early at a Grand Slam tournament for the third time in a row: at Wimbledon last summer in the second round and now in Australia, as at the US Open, in the starting round.
Dimitrov injured
Grigor Dimitrov (ATP 10) is also continuing a less than pleasing series. The Bulgarian had to retire from his third Grand Slam tournament in a row due to an injury. Francesco Passaro (ATP 104), who truly lives up to the term "lucky loser", had to kiss his hand. He had lost in the last round of qualifying and had only slipped into the main draw due to another withdrawal. Dimitrov was already complaining of hip pain last week and retired injured in the semi-finals in Brisbane the week before.
Nick Kyrgios also failed to win a set in his comeback against Britain's Jacob Fearnley (ATP 92).
Top stars unchallenged
In contrast, defending champion Jannik Sinner and world number 3 Carlos Alcaraz had no problems in their opening matches. Both advanced to the 2nd round without dropping a set. Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, fell a set behind against US teenager Nishesh Basavareddy, last week's semi-finalist in Auckland, before prevailing 4:6, 6:3, 6:4, 6:2.
