The first major shock has taken place at this year’s Australian Open after Stefanos Tsitsipas was sent packing by Alex Michelsen in round one of the event.
A finalist in 2023, the Greek performer came into this tournament looking to get going again after a pretty drab end to last year.
Tsitsipas was looking forward to seeing how the new coaching pods worked at this tournament but there was nothing his coaching team could do to prevent a Michelsen masterclass.
The world number 11 was dumped out by the American player in four sets. Tsitsipas became the highest seed to tumble in the men’s draw, losing 5-7, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6.
Michelsen enjoys a healthy relationship with the other USA players on the ATP Tour and once again he’s been quizzed on the rise of Taylor Fritz in recent times after his win over Tsitsipas.
Alex Michelsen shares how he feels about Taylor Fritz
The 27-year-old enjoyed a brilliant second half of 2024. He claimed a bronze medal alongside Tommy Paul at the Olympics and also reached a maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open.
He finished the year by reaching the final of the ATP Finals and then also helped the USA win the United Cup.
Fritz feels like one of the game’s good guys and his lofty world ranking of number four makes him way out in front of all of the other American players at this moment in time.
Michelsen has been quizzed on the player and it appears he’s someone that he looks up to on the tour, with the 20-year-old praising his efforts in recent times.
He told his press conference after beating Tsitsipas: ” I don’t really think about it too much. I know I’m probably the sixth or seventh-ranked American. I don’t know exactly what I’m at right now. I mean, I don’t think about it too much.
“Taylor is pretty far and away. I’m not going to be the number one American any time soon, so I try not to think about it. I feel like most of us are good buddies.
“Obviously we want to beat each other when we play each other, but at the same time we kind of support each other.
“So I don’t look at it as a competition trying to get ranked higher than everyone else. I’m just trying to do the best I can.”
Michelsen also had time to share what he believes Fritz has done to make himself so much better and start competing for the game’s bigger titles.
He continued: “Well, he has I think become a much better athlete in the last few years. He’s moving a lot better, and his serve and forehand are outrageously good. That’s how I see it.”
Michelsen can be future star in the world of tennis
Professional tennis certainly isn’t easy and it takes something between the ears to click as well as having the physical and technical elements required to make a fist of the game.
Michelsen beating Tsitsipas should give him a real confidence boost. The Greek star is a former finalist in Melbourne and winning against a player with that pedigree in round one is extremely decent.
Fritz can act as a real role model for these young American players coming through the ranks – and that includes someone like Michelsen.
He reached the third round at the Australian Open in 2024 and will now face Australian star James McCabe in round two on Wednesday.
Despite his tender years, Michelsen is already ranked number 42 in the world and there will be hope in the coming years that he can really kick on and break into the world’s top 20.
Results like this one will only enhance those chances…
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