Novak Djokovic, world No.7, was unceremoniously knocked out 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 Friday by the American Reilly Opelka, ranked only 293rd, in the quarter-final of the ATP tournament in Brisbane, a defeat of bad omen for the Serbian before the Australian Open.
Djokovic, former world No.1 who is coming off a 2024 season without a Grand Slam title – a first since 2017 – wants to try to win a 25th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, his favorite major tournament which he won ten times, starting on January 12 in Melbourne.
But the winner of 24 Grand Slam tournaments was stopped in his preparation in Brisbane by the American Opelka, 27 years old and 6 feet 11 inches, who gave him no chance, notably hitting 16 aces and multiplying unstoppable shots. He will meet Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 31st in the world, for a place in the final.
“Nothing to lose”
“He’s the greatest player of all time,” Opelka said of Djokovic after the match. “The reality is that we have nothing to lose by confronting it. We end up playing more freely and taking a lot more risks because it’s our only chance to beat him. It’s difficult for him, because there are guys like me who roll the dice, and on a day like this, things go my way,” said the American.
Opelka, formerly 17th in the world and currently at the bottom of the rankings after two long hiatuses in the last two years due to injuries, showed from the outset that he had not come to endure the match and obtained several balls of break at 4-4, but Djokovic managed to save them all.
Still neck and neck, the two players had to decide in the deciding game in the first round. Opelka took the lead before Djokovic came back to 5-4. The American then missed a first set point with a direct error before finishing on the second with a 12th ace.
At 37 years old, ten years older than his opponent, the Serbian seemed to suffer more from the humid heat which reigned on the court of the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane (eastern Australia).
Winner of four ATP-250 tournaments since 2019, but none for almost two years, the Michigan native kept the pace and hung Djokovic in the 2nd game of the 2nd set, but the Serb saved his serve before wasting a ball of break in the next game.
Opelka reminded the spectators that he had reached 17th world ranking in 2022 by breaking him in the process to lead 3 games to 1. In this match of hitters, he multiplied the unplayable shots, nailing Djokovic to the back of the court and forcing him to make numerous unforced errors.
Although the Serbian scored a shutout to return to 5-3, Opelka, very calm, concluded by winning the set with a 16th ace and a shutout in his turn.
