Alex de Minaur pulled off one of the more unexpected results of his career at the Washington Open, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 despite heading into the match with a 1-12 record against the Greek star. The turnaround was dramatic in every sense, with Tsitsipas unraveling midway through the deciding set and violently destroying his Wilson Blade racket, earning himself a code violation in the process.
Tsitsipas had looked refreshed coming into Washington after claiming his first ATP title of 2026 at the Swiss Open earlier this month. But those good feelings evaporated quickly. He piled up a staggering 52 unforced errors across the match, and was visibly frustrated with his coaching team and the breezy conditions throughout. It was a performance that rarely rose above ordinary from either player, yet De Minaur found just enough quality to grind through.
For De Minaur, the win carries extra significance as his first on tour since marrying Katie Boulter. He admitted that the quick return to competition after his wedding may have tempered expectations. He credited a smarter serving strategy as the key tactical shift, having identified his previous tendency to struggle on serve against Tsitsipas. By targeting the Greek's backhand more deliberately, De Minaur was able to neutralize one of Tsitsipas's most dangerous weapons, his inside-out forehand.
Next up for De Minaur is a genuinely compelling all-Australian showdown against Cruz Hewitt, son of Davis Cup captain and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt. De Minaur described the prospect as exciting, praising the teenager for earning his spot in the draw on merit. If De Minaur plays as inconsistently as he did against Tsitsipas, however, an upset is far from out of the question.
TennisDraw users will want to update their bracket picks carefully ahead of what promises to be a spicy Aussie derby.
