‘Bonkers’: No. 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas knocked out in huge US Open upset

The US Open has been rocked by yet another huge upset, with No. 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas knocked out on the opening day.

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

The US Open has been rocked by yet another huge upset.

No. 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas has been knocked out of the grand slam tournament after suffering a shock defeat to Colombian qualifier Daniel Galan in the first round on Tuesday morning AEST.

Galan, who sits at No. 94 on the ATP rankings, stunned the Greek phenom 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 to progress through to the second round, the first time he has achieved the feat at Flushing Meadows.

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Tsitsipas’ performance in the first two sets could only be described as dreadful – the 24-year-old was marred by dozens of unforced errors as Galan repeatedly broke his serve.

The 2021 French Open finalist, who at one stage lost 11 consecutive games, rediscovered some momentum in the third set, but Galan booked his place in the round of 64 by winning the fourth.

Tsitsipas managed to save eight match points before finally succumbing on Galan’s ninth attempt.

“The ninth time is the charm of a lifetime,” commentator Ted Robinson said.

“Daniel Galan shocks Stefano Tsitsipas. The biggest win of his life by miles.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Tennis journalist Gaspar Ribeiro Lanca described it as a “nightmare” for Tsitsipas.

“That was … as bad as you can imagine,” he tweeted.

Galan will next face Australia’s Jordan Thompson in the second round.

“He played like a world-class player and I played like a… close to amateur,” Tsitsipas told reporters after the defeat.

“It’s not very nice to say that, but that’s what happened.”

It's obviously not the story tonight, but Stefanos Tsitsipas is 6-0 4-0 down to Daniel Elahi Galan.

What on earth?!#USOpen

— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) August 29, 2022

Tsitsipas vs Galán at the US Open tonight was bonkers. So many match points missed, and yet ... down went Tsitsipas eventually. Impressive from Galán, in his first time in the US Open main draw.

— Paul Kedrosky (@pkedrosky) August 30, 2022

Really tough to explain Tsitsipas' performance.

And summer.

And year.

Some great moment, some horrific ones.

Incredible moment for Galan and Colombia, though.

Osório won earlier today as well...

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 30, 2022

Elsewhere at Flushing Meadows, American sporting icon Serena Williams claimed a 6-3 6-4 win over World No. 80 Danka Kovinic to ensure her incredible career goes for another match.

Former US Open champion Stan Wawrinka has hinted that retirement is just around the corner after he was forced to abandon his first round match against France’s Corentin Moutet.

Two-time grand slam champion Simona Halep was knocked out of the tournament after suffering a shock defeat to unseeded Ukrainian Daria Snigur.

A hasty change of outfit worked wonders for Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu as she powered into the second round, while British icon Andy Murray marked the 10th anniversary of his maiden grand slam triumph with an impressive straight sets win over Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.

Australian favourites Ajla Tomljanovic and Alex de Minaur also emerged victorious from their opening US Open contests.