Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Australian Open campaign came to an end on Thursday after a hard-fought second-round loss to in-form Czech opponent Tomas Machac.
The Greek star was defeated 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(5) in a tightly contested match that lasted three hours and eight minutes, with the outcome ultimately decided by fine margins and two decisive tie-breaks.
Tsitsipas had warned ahead of the match that he was expecting a tough battle against Machac, who entered the encounter in strong form following his recent title win in Adelaide. That assessment proved accurate, as the contest unfolded into a physical and tactical duel on Margaret Court Arena.
Machac struck first, taking the opening set, before Tsitsipas responded with greater intensity to claim the second and level the match. From there, neither player was able to gain a clear upper hand, with both the third and fourth sets pushed to tie-breaks.
While Tsitsipas remained a constant threat, he was unable to convert key opportunities at crucial moments. Machac, by contrast, displayed greater composure under pressure, closing out both tie-breaks to secure the biggest win of his Australian Open campaign to date.
The match was not without concern for the Greek, who appeared to struggle physically during the later stages. A medical timeout was called as Tsitsipas showed signs of discomfort in his lower body, though he continued to compete and push his opponent until the final point.
The victory extends Machac’s winning streak to seven matches and propels the 25-year-old into the third round, where he will face fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who earlier defeated fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
For Tsitsipas, the loss marks another early Grand Slam exit during a challenging period in his career. Despite signs of renewed fight and intensity compared to last season, questions around his physical durability and consistency remain as he looks to regain momentum in 2026.
