Aleksandar Vukic beats rejuvenated Stefanos Tsitsipas with ‘awesome’ Adelaide win | ATP Tour
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Vukic shocks rejuvenated Tsitsipas with ‘awesome’ Adelaide win
The Australian team will next face Valvasori; Machak and Hijikata advance to ATP 250 hard court
January 13, 2026
Mark Blake/Getty Images
Aleksandar Vukic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in Adelaide on Tuesday.
Jerome Coombe
Aleksandar Vukic ended Stefanos Tsitsipas’ promising start to 2026 with a clinical and timely performance to win 7-6(3), 7-6(5) at the Adelaide International on Tuesday night.
Tsitsipas, who went 3-0 in the Confederations Cup last week, appears rejuvenated after a tumultuous 2025 season in which he fell outside the top 20 for the first time since 2018. However, Vukic, who advanced through his hometown ATP 250 qualifiers, rose to the challenge and leveled the Lexus ATP head-to-head series at 1-1 in a lively atmosphere.
Vukic’s victory🇦🇺
Aleksandar Vukic defeated Tsitsipas 7-6, 7-6 to advance to Adelaide!@adelaidetennis | #adelaidetennis pic.twitter.com/nnnFlPQxjd
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 13, 2026
“I was talking to my team today [about how] I’m in awe of this stadium and the cricket fields here,” Vukic said of the Memorial Drive Tennis Center. “This center court is very special and it’s very crowded. I appreciate everyone’s support, everyone helped me tonight. This is an amazing win for me. “
The Australian saved all four break points he faced and was clinical when it mattered most, according to Infosys ATP Statistics. In the second set tiebreaker, Vukic scored 6 of the last 8 points after falling 1/3 behind to seal the victory in 1 hour and 53 minutes. This was his 21st victory over a top-50 opponent.
Vukic, ranked 87th in the PIF ATP rankings, will next face doubles star Andrea Vavassoli, who also defeated Gabriel Diallo 6-3, 7-6(4) in qualifying. Vavassori won the Adelaide Doubles Championship last year with partner Simone Bolelli and is a two-time Nitto ATP Finals participant.
Earlier, Tomas Machac defeated Australian wild card player James Duckworth 6-3, 6-3, which was his first tour-level victory since Shanghai last October. The eighth seed will next face qualifier Quentin Halys, who defeated lucky loser Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-4.
In an all-Australian wildcard match, Hijikata Rinki defeated Tristan Skucket 6-4, 6-4 and faced top seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round.
