Upsets are always a fascinating part of Grand Slam tennis, and the Australian Open is no exception.
Alex Michelsen registered the first upset of the 2025 Australian Open with a four-set 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Greek superstar Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The first upset of the 2025 Australian Open belongs to Next Gen star Alex Michelsen! 🇺🇸#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/si2Mbi9kdX
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 13, 2025
Tsitsipas, the 2023 Australian Open finalist and former World No. 3 player, lost to Michelsen once last year at the Tokyo Open. Given the Greek star’s popularity in Australia, he has long regarded the Australian Open as his home Grand Slam.
Admin update: unable to move from our seats thanks to Tsitsipas v Michelsen 👀#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/y0w1W8Q4MN
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
Who Is Alex Michelsen?
6’4″ Michelsen, 20, is one of a promising group of young Americans slowly and steadily rising in the ATP rankings. The native Californian turned pro in 2023. The Australian Open is where he has played his best Grand Slam tennis with a third-round finish in 2024. He is currently ranked 42nd in the world.
For Tsitsipas it is the second straight Grand Slam (2024 US Open) where he was knocked out in the first round. He was once regarded as one of the best players in the world to never win a Grand Slam. This title has since been passed on to German player Alexander Zverev. The 26-year-old has slipped out of the Top 10.
In 2024, Tsitsipas took a brave and difficult stand, breaking away from his father’s coaching oversight. His father Apostolos Tsitsipas had been his coach since 2001, when he was three years old.
Game, set, match, Badosa 👏
She overcomes the Wang challenge 6-3, 7-6 (5).#AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/XUQO5aulFQ— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 12, 2025
Stefanos Tsitsipas’s girlfriend, Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa, the 2024 WTA Comeback Player of the Year, won her first-round match on Sunday against Chinese player Xinyu Wang.
