DC Open Day Three Round-Up | Alex De Minaur ends Tsitsipas curse, Rafael Jodar stuns Nishikori as Musetti survives scare
ATP
The second round of the DC Open continued with several high-profile names taking the court in Washington, while the final first-round match delivered one of the biggest storylines of the day. Alex de Minaur ended a long wait against Stefanos Tsitsipas, earning only his second career victory over the Greek after overcoming him in a three-set battle.
The day also featured impressive performances from the next generation, with Rafael Jódar producing another statement win by defeating former Grand Slam finalist Kei Nishikori in straight sets, while Alex Michelsen and Taylor Fritz advanced without major setbacks. Lorenzo Musetti survived a late scare against Aleksandar Vukic, recovering his composure in the deciding set to book his place in the next round.
De Minaur finally solves Tsitsipas puzzle in Washington thriller
Alex de Minaur def. Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Alex de Minaur finally ended his long wait against Tsitsipas, defeating the Greek in three sets to secure just his second career victory over him and continue his DC Open campaign. The Australian entered the contest with a difficult head-to-head record, having lost 12 of their previous 13 meetings, but showed impressive composure from the opening stages.
De Minaur took control of the first set after finding the decisive break and consistently challenged Tsitsipas with his speed, defence and ability to extend rallies. Tsitsipas responded by raising his level in the second set, finding more aggression from the baseline and forcing a decider.
However, De Minaur stayed calm in the deciding moments, earning the key break before closing out the victory to claim one of his biggest wins of the Washington week. The result sends De Minaur into the second round after overcoming one of his toughest recent opponents.
De Minaur managed to take his second victory in 14 encounters against Tsitsipas
Fritz keeps Washington title charge alive with Majchrzak win
Taylor Fritz def. Kamil Majchrzak 6-3, 6-4
Third seed Taylor Fritz continued his DC Open campaign with a convincing straight-sets victory over Kamil Majchrzak, keeping his hopes alive at the ATP 500 event. The American made the perfect start by immediately putting pressure on Majchrzak’s serve, securing an early break and controlling the opening set with his powerful first-strike tennis.
Fritz followed the same blueprint in the second set, finding another early advantage and using his serve to protect the lead. Majchrzak remained competitive, but the American never allowed the match to become complicated and closed out another efficient performance in Washington.
Taylor Fritz advanced to the quarterfinals and will face Alex Michelsen in an all-American duel.
Musetti survives Vukic scare after second-set collapse
Lorenzo Musetti def. Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
Lorenzo Musetti survived a major scare in Washington, recovering after letting a second-set lead slip to defeat Aleksandar Vukic and reach the next round of the DC Open.
The fourth seed looked in complete control for much of the match. Musetti broke early in the opening set and carried that momentum into the second, where he again moved ahead by a break and eventually found himself serving for the match. However, Vukic produced an impressive turnaround, breaking back before winning the final two games of the set to force a decider.
After seeing the momentum swing dramatically in his opponent’s favour, Musetti responded like a top seed in the final set. The Italian steadied his game, regained control from the baseline and earned another crucial break to re-establish his advantage. Vukic continued to compete aggressively, but Musetti remained composed in the closing stages and served out the match to avoid what would have been one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
The victory keeps Musetti’s Washington title hopes alive and sets up a fascinating next-round clash against rising Spaniard Rafael Jódar, who has emerged as one of the surprise stories of the week.
Lorenzo Musetti reaches the quarterfinals of an ATP tournament for the first time since Barcelona Open back in April.
Jódar continues dream Washington run with Nishikori upset
Rafael Jódar def. Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2
Rafael Jódar continued his breakthrough week in Washington with another impressive victory, defeating former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori in straight sets.
After already scoring a major upset against eighth seed Arthur Fils, the young Spaniard showed that his first-round success was no fluke. Jódar controlled the match from the beginning, finding breaks in both sets and preventing Nishikori from establishing his rhythm.
The Spaniard remained composed under pressure, using his consistency and ability to absorb Nishikori’s attacking moments to dictate the match. The victory marks another important step in Jódar’s rapid rise and sets up a fascinating showdown against fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti.
Jodar continues his dream season and is one win away from the top 20
Michelsen overcomes Mannarino test in straight sets
Alex Michelsen def. Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 7-6(3)
Alex Michelsen advanced in Washington after overcoming veteran Adrian Mannarino in straight sets, surviving a tougher second-set battle to book his place in the next round.
The American made the difference in the opening set by converting the only break opportunity of the frame, then remained composed as Mannarino attempted to force a deciding set.
The Frenchman pushed the second set into a tiebreak, but Michelsen raised his level when the pressure increased. The American dominated the shootout and closed out another strong performance on home soil.
Michelsen has won 10 of his 11 hardcourt matches since Wimbledon – (including Challenger level matches). He will play Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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