USA’s Reilly Opelka celebrates successful his match towards Serbia’s Novak Djokovic on the Brisbane Worldwide, in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Novak Djokovic was crushed 7-6 (6), 6-3 by big-serving Reilly Opelka within the Brisbane Worldwide quarterfinals.
The 37-year-old Djokovic was taking part in his first event of the yr. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is making ready for the Australian Open, which begins on Jan. 12 and which he has received 10 instances.
“Wonderful tennis, Reilly. Completely deserved,” Djokovic wrote on Instagram.
Opelka served 16 aces – together with one to complete off every set – to earn one of many largest wins of the American’s profession.
“I used to be simply centered on my spots,” Opelka mentioned. “If I hit them, it’s laborious to get them again. If there’s anybody that may, it’s him.
“Now we have nothing to lose coming in towards him. He’s the best participant ever,” Opelka added. “So, you find yourself taking part in extra free and you’re taking much more danger. If you happen to play your regular degree and even above a traditional degree, he’s going to win each time. So, it’s robust in his place as a result of he will get guys which can be good gamers that they roll the cube. And on a day like this when numerous issues go my method that’s the way it works out.”
New coach Andy Murray will be part of Djokovic in Melbourne.
Opelka achieved a career-high rating of No. 17 in Feb. 2022 earlier than present process hip surgical procedure later that yr to take away a benign tumour. He’s now No. 293.
“It was robust. Plenty of uncertainty, numerous doubt,” Opelka mentioned.
Within the semifinals, Opelka will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who beat Jakub Mensik 7-5, 7-6 (5). The opposite semifinal will characteristic Jiri Lehecka towards Grigor Dimitrov.
Lehecka beat Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 6-4 and Dimitrov superior when Jordan Thompson retired whereas Dimitrov was forward 6-1, 2-1.
Printed – January 04, 2025 02:29 pm IST
