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.

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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 1hr, 48min.

Tsitsipas, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, also lost in the first round of the US Open last month.

He announced last month that he was ending his long-time coaching collaboration with his father Apostolos.

Tsitsipas said after losing to Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis at the US Open that he was “nothing compared to the player I was before”, speaking of “long-term burnout”.

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The former world number three has slipped out of the top 10 and has won just two titles in two seasons.

READ ALSO: It’s Tsitsipas Vs Djokovic in historic final

Michelsen was joined in the second round at the Japan Open by Britain’s US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper, who beat Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci 6-4, 6-2.

American Tommy Paul, the number five seed, beat Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 6-3, 6-2.

Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka edged Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in a match that lasted 3hr, 12min.

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