Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world No. 12, has made a startling “karma” confession following his unexpected first-round exit from the 2025 tournament. The Greek star withdrew from the men’s doubles draw, where he was set to partner with his brother Petros, to conserve energy for what he hoped would be a deep run in the singles. However, his strategy backfired spectacularly as he was stunned by 20-year-old rising star Alex Michelsen, who triumphed 7-5 3-6 6-2 6-4.
Tsitsipas, reflecting on the loss, acknowledged his miscalculation, admitting, “It’s quite ironic. My whole [idea] was to try to go deep into the Australian Open. I knew the first thing I had to consider was not playing doubles. I guess karma hit me. I was not able to deliver or play the way I was hoping to at this year’s event.”
A Misguided Strategy and Reflections on Hunger
The 26-year-old elaborated on his reasoning, explaining that his primary goal was to preserve energy for the tournament’s latter stages. “The whole purpose was just to save up on some energy and be fresher, hopefully, in the deeper draw of the tournament,” he said. Unfortunately, his plans unraveled early, forcing him to confront broader questions about his performance and mindset.
Looking back, Tsitsipas highlighted a change in his mental state compared to earlier in his career. “I had more mental freshness back then; it seemed like I had more hunger than now,” he reflected. “One of the things that stood out then is that I had the hunger to try to make tennis my life and to have a good start in my tennis career and journey. It’s different from what it is now.”
Despite his struggles, Tsitsipas remains optimistic about his development as a player. “I would say I am a better player now than then. Even though I may be losing now and not at my best, I believe I am a much better player than I was then,” he said, noting improvements in his technique and adaptability.
2025 Developments and Challenges
Tsitsipas has experienced a rollercoaster career trajectory. Once ranked as high as No. 3 in the world in 2021 after reaching the Australian Open semifinals and the French Open final, he seemed destined for sustained success. He built on those achievements by reaching the Australian Open semifinals in 2022 and finishing as runner-up in 2023, losing to Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic.
However, the Greek star’s form dipped significantly in 2024, culminating in a slide outside the ATP Top 10. Early exits at major tournaments, including a first-round loss at the US Open and a second-round departure at Wimbledon, underscored his struggles. His disappointing start to 2025, marked by the Australian Open loss, signals another likely drop in the rankings.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
