Tomas Machac stuns Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach Australian Open third round
Tomas Machac continued his clinical start to the 2026 season by defeating former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 on Thursday to secure a place in the Australian Open third round.
Tomas Machac – Australian Open 2026 | © PsNewz
The 25-year-old Czech delivered a display of gritty tennis to eliminate the 31st seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four-set battle on Margaret Court Arena. Fresh off his second career title in Adelaide last week, Machac extends his current winning streak to seven matches.
While Machac appeared to be controlling the tempo early with a set and a break lead, the accumulated playing time from his recent title run and the demands of a Grand Slam best-of-five format began to take a visible toll.
For the 27-year-old Tsitsipas, the defeat marks another early exit from a major, having failed to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since 2024. Despite playing with more conviction than in his 2025 campaign, the Greek star was once again hampered by physical issues. The physio was called to the court as Tsitsipas appeared to struggle with a lower-body injury, at one point falling to the floor and grabbing his leg and foot.
Machac on a roll
The contest remained competitive until the final moments, with Machac showing remarkable resilience to navigate two consecutive tiebreaks. Even as fatigue set in, the Czech maintained his composure. Tsitsipas remained a threat throughout the three-hour encounter, but his inability to capitalize on key moments in the tiebreaks ultimately proved decisive.
Machac now advances to a high-stakes third-round clash against the fifth seed, Lorenzo Musetti, who defeated Lorenzo Sonego earlier in the day. The victory represents a milestone for Machac as he matches his best career result at the Australian Open and moves toward a potential debut in the second week of a major. For Tsitsipas, the loss will likely lead to further questions regarding his physical durability and coaching setup as his ranking continues to fluctuate outside the top 30.
