Staff Reporter.
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ woes continued after the Greek number four seed exited the Japan Open with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 first-round loss to American Alex Michelsen on Thursday.
Tsitsipas, the world number 12, took the first set in Tokyo but had no answer to his 49th-ranked opponent for the rest of the match, losing in 1 hour 48 minutes.
Tsitsipas, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, also lost in the first round of the US Open last month.
Meanwhile American fifth seed Tommy Paul beat Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 6-2, while Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka edged Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) in a match that lasted three hours and 12 minutes.
Elsewhere Britain’s Jack Draper is through to the Japan Open last 16 following a straight-set win over Mattia Bellucci.