BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — On a thrilling Friday at the Brisbane International, Novak Djokovic faced off against the formidable Reilly Opelka, succumbing to a score of 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
This marked the 37-year-old Djokovic’s inaugural tournament of the year as he gears up for the Australian Open, which kicks off on January 12—an event he has triumphantly clinched 10 times.
In a post on Instagram, Djokovic praised Opelka, stating, “Incredible tennis, Reilly. You completely earned this victory!”
Opelka’s powerful game shone through with an impressive tally of 16 aces—each one serving as a capstone to both sets, sealing a major milestone in the American’s career.
“I concentrated on hitting my marks,” Opelka remarked. “When I connect, it’s difficult to return. And if anyone can, it’s definitely him.”
Opelka further elaborated, “We enter these matches with nothing to lose against him. He’s arguably the greatest player of all time. This mindset lets me play more liberally and take bigger risks. If you perform at or above your usual level, Djokovic generally prevails. It’s a challenge for him because he faces players willing to gamble, and on days like today, when everything aligns for me, that’s how outcomes unfold.”
Looking ahead, Djokovic will be joined by his new coach, Andy Murray, as they head to Melbourne for the upcoming competition.
Opelka, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 17 in February 2022, faced significant adversity following hip surgery later that year to remove a benign tumor, which has seen him drop to No. 293.
Reflecting on his journey, Opelka admitted, “It’s been challenging—filled with uncertainty and self-doubt.”
In the semifinals, Opelka is set to clash with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who secured his spot after defeating Jakub Mensik 7-5, 7-6 (5). The other semifinal features Jiri Lehecka facing Grigor Dimitrov.
Lehecka triumphed over Nicolas Jarry with a score of 6-4, 6-4, while Dimitrov advanced when Jordan Thompson retired while trailing 6-1, 2-1.
