Tsitsipas 'hit by karma' in Australian Open exit

Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the Australian Open final in 2023, losing to Novak Djokovic

Australian Open 2025

Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park

Coverage: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app

Stefanos Tsitsipas believes his Australian Open first-round exit was "karma" after he withdrew from playing doubles alongside his brother to focus on singles.

The Greek, runner-up in Melbourne in 2023, lost 7-5 6-3 2-6 6-4 to American Alex Michelsen on the second day's play.

The 11th seed had been due to play doubles with his brother, Petros, but withdrew before the tournament began to protect his singles chances.

"It's quite ironic. My whole [idea] was to try to go deep. I knew the first thing I had to consider was not playing doubles," Tsitsipas, 26, said.

"The whole purpose was just to save up on some energy and be fresher hopefully in the deeper draw of the tournament.

"I guess karma hit me. I was not able to deliver or play the way I was hoping to at this year's event."

Tsitsipas has long been tipped as a future Grand Slam champion, having reached the Melbourne showpiece two years ago and the French Open final in 2021, losing both to Novak Djokovic.

However, he lost in the first round at last year's US Open and in the second round at Wimbledon.

"The most frustrating part about losing in the first round of a Grand Slam is that you have way too much time to recover," Tsitsipas added.

"It just sucks that I'll be hanging around for quite a while now before my next tournament comes in."

Earlier, world number one Jannik Sinner opened up his title defence with a 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 victory over Chile's Nicolas Jarry.

Sinner's rival, Carlos Alcaraz, began his bid for a career Grand Slam with a swift 6-1 7-5 6-1 victory over Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko.

Spain's Alcaraz, 21, will become the youngest man to win all four Grand Slams should he triumph in Melbourne.

American 12th seed Tommy Paul came through a gruelling five-set match to beat Australia's Christopher O'Connell 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 7-5.

Paul's compatriot and US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe overcame a bout of illness mid-match to secure his place in the second round.

Tiafoe vomited twice at 5-6 down in the fourth set against France's Arthur Rinderknech, before regrouping to win 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 in four hours and eight minutes.

He said afterwards that it was caused by being over-hydrated while playing in the Melbourne heat.

"I think if it was any other event, I probably would have let it go," Tiafoe said.

"But here, you got to lay it all on the line."

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov became the first top-10 player to exit the tournament when he retired hurt while trailing Italian lucky loser Francesco Passaro 7-5 2-1.