Stefanos Tsitsipas believes he is a better player than in the past despite crashing out of the Australian Open on Monday.
The 2023 finalist was knocked out in the first round by America’s Alex Michelsen who won 7-5, 6-3. 2-6, 6-4. It is only the second time the Greek has lost his opening match at the tournament after 2018 when he made his main draw debut. More worrying for Tsitsipas is that this is the third Grand Slam in a row where he has failed to win back-to-back matches after losing in the second round of Wimbledon last year and then the first round at the US Open.
“It was a difficult first-round match. I knew I was dealing with a pretty serious opponent because I’ve played him before, and I have lost,” Tsitsipas said during his press conference.
“I knew coming into this match that things don’t suddenly change. I knew I had to be on top of my game to try and win this match.
“I had a very slow start to the match. In terms of finding my movements and just dominating from the serve plus one, it wasn’t really the way I’m expecting it to work. That led to some frustration and, let’s say, insecurity in terms of approaching my game.
“I also felt like I didn’t have enough power in my shot today, so I ended up playing a bit more and kind of having to work twice or three times more every single point to try to win it.”
The 26-year-old is currently ranked 12th in the PIF ATP rankings, which is nine places below his career high. So far in his career, he has won 12 titles on the Tour and 350 matches. A significantly higher tally than Michelson who is six years younger than him.
Whilst frustrated with yet another early exit from a major event, Tsitsipas believes his game is at a better level than it was three years ago. Even though back then his success rate was higher. Over the past two seasons, he has won one title in each.
“I’ve been quite well-established in the last couple of years, and I have seen the game, and I have seen all variations of games around the Tour,” he said.
“I’ve done the Tour over and over again, the same circle of tournaments and events. I’ve experienced what it is to be on the ATP Tour. I feel like there was a different energy, a different dynamic back then.
“I would actually say that I’m a better player now than I was back then. So even though I’m losing now and I’m not at my best, I feel like I’m much better as a player than back then where I felt like my shots were not as heavy in terms of topspin. I was playing much more flat and much more through the court.
“I feel like such a thing now wouldn’t work as effectively as it did back then.”
Tsitsipas had also entered into the doubles draw with his brother Petros but opted to withdraw from the tournament to focus on his singles matches. Something he admits didn’t go to plan.
“I guess karma hit me,” he said. “I was not able to deliver or play the way I was hoping to at this year’s event. The whole purpose was just to save up on some energy and be fresher hopefully in the deeper draw of the tournament.”
As Tsitsipas exits Melbourne, Michelsen will play James Mccade in the second round. He is playing in the Australian Open main draw for only the second time in his career.