Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Friday January 3, 2025 at 1:53 p.m.
Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane tournament by the greatest player on the circuit, Reilly Opelka, in two sets. It is therefore the American giant who will face the French giant Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard for a place in the final.
The 100th title of Novak Djokovic’s career will wait! The Serbian had decided to start his 2025 season in the first week of the year, in Brisbane, to accumulate victories and prepare as best as possible for the Australian Open. But he fell in the quarter-finals, against the American giant Reilly Opelka (7-6, 6-3 in 1h40), the tallest player on the circuit with his 2.11m. Absent for eight months last season due to a wrist injury, the Michigan native fell to 293rd in the world, but he was 17th before his major physical problems, and at 27, his career is far from being determined. This Friday, the one who faced Djokovic for the first time was almost unplayable on serve. He signed 16 aces and 77% of first serves, and saved the only break point that the Serb got. In humidity reaching 90%, the man with 24 Grand Slams appeared to suffer physically, often finding himself out of breath, which was not the case during his first two rounds against Hijikata and Monfils. He quickly understood that this match would not be fun when Opelka easily won his first service games. At 4-4, the American got three break points, saved by Djokovic, and in the decisive game, although a specialty of the Serb, it was the giant who won 8-6.
A duel of great servers
In the second set, the world No. 7 got his first (and last) break point at 1-1, but he missed it. On the other hand, Opelka did not miss the opportunity to break at 2-1 and he flew into this match, losing only three points on his throw. Novak Djokovic now has ten days to prepare for the better for the Australian Open, where he will aim for a 25th Major. Reilly Opelka will face another giant (2.03m), the Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, for the first time in his career, on Saturday in the semi-final. The aces will rain!
