Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek number four seed, continued his recent struggles on the tennis court with a disappointing first-round exit at the Japan Open. He fell to American Alex Michelsen in a match that lasted one hour and 48 minutes.
Tsitsipas, currently ranked No. 12 in the world, took the opening set in Tokyo but was unable to sustain his momentum, ultimately losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. This loss marks another setback for the two-time Grand Slam finalist, who also suffered a first-round exit at the US Open last month.
The Greek player has been open about his recent difficulties. He announced last month that he was ending his long-time coaching partnership with his father, Apostolos, and expressed feelings of “long-term burnout” after his US Open loss to Thanasi Kokkinakis. He acknowledged that his current form is far below his previous level, stating that he was “nothing compared to the player I was before.” These struggles have seen him slip out of the top 10 rankings and win only two titles over the last two seasons.
Michelsen’s victory propels him into the second round of the Japan Open, joining other notable players including British standout Jack Draper. Draper, who reached the US Open semi-finals, comfortably defeated Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci 6-4, 6-2. Another American, Tommy Paul, the fifth seed, also advanced after defeating Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 6-3, 6-2.
The tournament also saw a thrilling three-set battle between Japanese player Yoshihito Nishioka and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime. Nishioka emerged victorious after three hours and twelve minutes of intense play, winning 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5).
