- American Alex Michelsen defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the first round, marking the biggest win of his career.
- Michelsen extended his unbeaten record against Tsitsipas, following a win over him at the Japan Open last year.
- Tsitsipas, the 11th seed, made several errors and struggled to recover after losing the second set.
- Michelsen will face either Australian wildcard James McCabe or Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce in the next round.
American Alex Michelsen pulled off a career-defining upset on Monday, defeating Greek 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the first round of the Australian Open. Michelsen, who had previously beaten Tsitsipas at the Japan Open in 2023, extended his unbeaten record against the Greek and became the first major casualty at Melbourne Park.
Michelsen displayed remarkable composure throughout the match, firing 46 winners past Tsitsipas and executing a game plan that involved effective net play and powerful baseline shots. Tsitsipas, who had opted out of the doubles draw to focus on his singles campaign, struggled with errors in key moments, particularly during the second set. The turning point came when Michelsen produced a brilliant forehand drop shot at 4-3, which left Tsitsipas out of position and fueled his momentum toward closing out the set.
Although Tsitsipas regained focus in the third set, breaking back to win it, Michelsen responded with a decisive break in the opening game of the fourth set. He sealed the victory with a series of sharp return winners, continuing to stay composed under pressure. “I just tried to stay super composed out there today,” Michelsen said post-match. “I knew it was going to be a battle in the end.”
Michelsen will now face either Australian wildcard James McCabe or Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce in the second round.
Frances Tiafoe Overcomes Illness to Win Five-Set Marathon
- Frances Tiafoe fought through vomiting during a five-set win over Arthur Rinderknech in the first round.
- Despite feeling unwell, Tiafoe won 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in 4 hours and 8 minutes.
- Tiafoe admitted that he considered quitting but chose to continue for the sake of the tournament.
Frances Tiafoe endured a grueling five-set battle at the Australian Open on Monday, overcoming illness and vomiting during the match to defeat Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in 4 hours and 8 minutes. Tiafoe vomited both behind the baseline and on the edge of the court during a tense 5-6 game in the fourth set, leaving him unsure whether he could continue.
“I think if it was any other event, I probably would have let it go,” said Tiafoe. “But here, you got to lay it all on the line.” Despite the setback, Tiafoe managed to push through and ultimately secure the win, demonstrating his resilience and determination to advance in the tournament.
