Japan Open: Michelsen knocks out fourth seed Tsitsipas

American qualifier Alex Michelsen defeated Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No 4 seed, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round of the Japan Open on Thursday.

The loss continued a poor stretch of form for Tsitsipas, who has now won only one match in his previous four ATP events.

Michelsen, ranked No 49, will play the winner of the match between Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell next at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo.

Tokyo ATP 500, other first-round matches (Ariake Colosseum, hard, USD 1,818,380):

• Tomas Machac beat Alexei Popyrin: 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5
• Yoshihito Nishioka (WC) beat Felix Auger-Aliassime: 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (5)
• Jack Draper beat Mattia Bellucci (Q): 6-4, 6-2
• Tommy Paul (5) beat Matteo Arnaldi: 6-3, 6-2
• Ugo Humbert beat Shintaro Mochizuki (WC): 6-1, 6-2
• Hubert Hurkacz (2) beat Marcos Giron: 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4
• Matteo Berrettini beat Botic van de Zandschulp (Q): 6-3, 6-4
• Mariano Navone beat Luciano Darderi: 6-4, 6-4
• Casper Ruud vs. Jordan Thompson
• Marin Cilic vs. Kei Nishikori
• Taylor Fritz vs. Arthur Fils
• Alejandro Tabilo vs. Holger Rune
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs. Christopher O’Connell
• Frances Tiafoe vs. Brandon Nakashima
• Reilly Opelka vs. Ben Shelton