Stefanos Tsitsipas believes his Australian Open first-round exit was “karma” after he withdrew from enjoying doubles alongside his brother to give attention to singles.

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

The eleventh seed had been as a consequence of play doubles along with his brother, Petros, however withdrew earlier than the event started to guard his singles possibilities.

“It is fairly ironic. My complete [idea] was to attempt to go deep. I knew the very first thing I needed to take into account was not enjoying doubles,” Tsitsipas, 26, stated.

“The entire goal was simply to avoid wasting up on some power and be brisker hopefully within the deeper draw of the event.

“I assume karma hit me. I used to be not in a position to ship or play the way in which I hoped to at this 12 months’s occasion.”

Tsitsipas has lengthy been tipped as a future Grand Slam champion, having reached the Melbourne showpiece two years in the past and the French Open closing in 2021, dropping each to Novak Djokovic.

Nevertheless, he misplaced within the first spherical finally 12 months’s US Open and within the second spherical at Wimbledon.

“Essentially the most irritating half about dropping within the first spherical of a Grand Slam is that you’ve got method an excessive amount of time to get well,” Tsitsipas added.

“It simply sucks that I will be hanging round for fairly some time now earlier than my subsequent event is available in.”