The first round of the 2025 Australian Open has wrapped up with a few major upsets on the men’s side.
Alex Michelsen def. (No. 11) Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Unseeded 20-year-old American Alex Michelsen gets the biggest win of his career with a four-set victory over 2023 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round of the Australian Open. The deciding fourth set was close, but Tsitsipas made a costly error, double-faulting on break point in the ninth game. This marked Michelsen’s first Top 20 win at a Grand Slam, and he has moved up to a career-high No. 41 in the live ATP Rankings.
Defeating a Top 20 player at a Grand Slam for the first time ✅
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
Handing Tsitsipas consecutive 1st round losses in Grand Slams✅
All at 20 ✅
What a star, Alex Michelsen@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/L22eV5UGqf
Francesco Passaro def. (No. 10) Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 2-1, Retired
Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire during his first-round match due to a lower hip injury while trailing 5-7, 1-2 against Italy’s Francesco Passaro. Dimitrov had been dealing with this injury and had previously withdrawn from his semifinal match in Brisbane earlier in the month.
Having had to retire in Brisbane, @GrigorDimitrov is forced to do the same in Melbourne.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
Tough luck, Grigor. We're hoping for a speedy recovery and wish you well for the remainder of the season.
Francesco Passaro progresses 7-5 2-1#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/RpDd862HVd
João Fonseca def. (No. 9) Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
18-year-old Brazilian João Fonseca upset No. 9 Andrey Rublev in straight sets in his Grand Slam main draw debut. Fonseca, currently ranked 112th, entered the tournament after winning three matches in the qualifying rounds last week. The Brazilian is on a 14-match win streak, including titles at the Next Gen ATP Finals and the Canberra Challenger.
Fonseca is being seen as a future Grand Slam contender, having made significant progress in 2024 by breaking into the top 150 after starting the season ranked 730th in the world.
A ⭐️ is born.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2025
Brazil have a new Fenômeno and his name is Joao Fonseca!
The 18-year-old qualifier beats No.9 seed Andrey Rublev 7-6(1) 6-3 7-6(5)@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/lBYZunZEcq
