Brisbane, January 4 (AP) – In a stunning turnaround at the Brisbane International, Reilly Opelka delivered a masterstroke to Novak Djokovic, defeating the Serbian star 7-6 ( 6), 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic, 37, was starting his season at this tournament ahead of the Australian Open, which begins January 12. This competition is particularly meaningful to him, having won the title ten times during his career.
“Amazing tennis, Reilly. Completely deserved,” Djokovic commented on Instagram, praising Opelka’s exceptional performance.
Opelka demonstrated his power on serve, delivering an impressive total of 16 aces during the match, concluding each set with a solid service game that led him to one of the biggest victories of his career.
“I was just focused on my zones,” Opelka said after the match. “If I can hit those targets, it makes it really difficult for anyone to return them. If there’s anyone who could do it, it’s him.”
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Opelka added, “We came into the match with nothing to lose. He’s the greatest player of all time. It allowed me to play more freely and take bigger risks. If I play my usual level, or even a little above, it’s difficult for anyone, including him, to win consistently With a day like this, everything just went well for me.
Looking ahead, Djokovic will be joined in Melbourne by his new coach, Andy Murray, as he continues his preparations for the Grand Slam.
After reaching a record professional ranking of No. 17 in February 2022, Opelka went through some tough times, including hip surgery to remove a benign tumor, which dropped him to 293rd place.
“It was a difficult journey filled with uncertainty and doubt,” Opelka reflected on her recent challenges.
In the next round, Opelka will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who secured his place in the semi-finals after beating Jakub Mensik with a score of 7-5, 7-6 (5). The other semifinal match pitted Jiri Lehecka against Grigor Dimitrov, where Lehecka emerged victorious against Nicolas Jarry with a score of 6-4, 6-4, while Dimitrov advanced when Jordan Thompson retired while he was trailing 6-1, 2-1.
(AP)
