The Kazakh, outspokenly, harshly criticized the retirement methods of both legends and also claimed that doping controls were skipped.
Novak Djokovic
Two years off the tracks and three surgeries later, Reilly looks back with pride on the so bumpy road he overcame.
The defeat against Opelka raises some doubts in the campaign for the 25th Grand Slam. We analyze the reasons behind it and the current form in which the Serbian arrives in Melbourne.
We reveal the potential matchups among the title favorites throughout the 2025 Australian Open, based on the order of the seeded players.
The fact that Reilly Opelka is currently ranked 293 in the world may be considered circumstantial and anecdotal, but the truth is that with his victory over Novak Djokovic, the American has become the second-lowest-ranked player to defeat the Serbian. Topping this curious list is Filip Krajinovic, who beat Nole in the Belgrade tournament in 2010 when he was ranked 319 in the world.
🇺🇸 Reilly Opelka (293) is the 2nd lowest ranked player to beat 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic after his countryman 🇷🇸 Filip Krajinovic (319) at 2010 Belgrade#BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/4yZ9zrjg1F
— TennisMyLife (@TennisMyLife68) January 3, 2025
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Opelka se convierte en el segundo tenista de peor ranking que gana a Djokovic
[pixels-player]
Reilly Opelka has managed to surprise Novak Djokovic at the ATP Brisbane 2025, signing an impressive victory that leaves some doubts for the Serbian heading into Australia. The American's performance was spectacular, not only through his tremendous first serves but also his magnificent firmness with his forehand in the baseline exchanges. Thus, he breaks an impressive streak: he is the first American to defeat Djokovic since Sam Querrey at Wimbledon 2016. After nine years and 34 drought games, the one from Belgrade falls again to a player from the land of the stars and stripes.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Opelka "venga" a sus compatriotas: ¡rompió una racha de nueve años!
[pixels-player]
Reilly Opelka lived through a true hell in the last two seasons. He underwent three surgeries, including one on his hip where they removed a benign tumor, and thought about not returning to a tennis court. After months of hard work and sacrifice, the injuries are now a thing of the past, and the American is enjoying an enormous level to start off 2025, which has led him to defeat Novak Djokovic in what is surely one of the greatest victories of his career. After advancing to the semifinals of ATP Brisbane 2025, he couldn't contain the emotion on the court.
"It was very tough. There was a lot of uncertainty and many doubts. I watched a lot of my friends' matches on TV, I saw Tommy (Paul), Taylor (Fritz), Frances (Tiafoe), Ben (Shelton) doing great, which motivated me a lot. It kept me interested in this sport. I also saw Novak become the best of all time in the past two years. I stayed mentally strong, even when I was in a cast and on crutches, simply hopeful of having another opportunity like the one I had tonight". Now he will face Perricard in the semifinals.
"A lot of uncertainty, a lot of doubt ... you ask yourself 'What would Novak do in this situation?'" 🗣️
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) January 3, 2025
Reilly Opelka on coming back from injury and multiple surgeries to beat Novak Djokovic 👇 pic.twitter.com/UCdrWFB6d6
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las emotivas palabras de Opelka tras derrotar a Djokovic: "Hubo incertidumbre..."
[pixels-player]
Serbian surprises with loss in Brisbane quarterfinals against exceptional Opelka, who bombarded him with powerful shots and capitalized on his lack of power with his groundstrokes.
The Kazakh, outspokenly, harshly criticized the retirement methods of both legends and also claimed that doping controls were skipped.
We reveal the potential matchups among the title favorites throughout the 2025 Australian Open, based on the order of the seeded players.
Two years off the tracks and three surgeries later, Reilly looks back with pride on the so bumpy road he overcame.
The fact that Reilly Opelka is currently ranked 293 in the world may be considered circumstantial and anecdotal, but the truth is that with his victory over Novak Djokovic, the American has become the second-lowest-ranked player to defeat the Serbian. Topping this curious list is Filip Krajinovic, who beat Nole in the Belgrade tournament in 2010 when he was ranked 319 in the world.
🇺🇸 Reilly Opelka (293) is the 2nd lowest ranked player to beat 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic after his countryman 🇷🇸 Filip Krajinovic (319) at 2010 Belgrade#BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/4yZ9zrjg1F
— TennisMyLife (@TennisMyLife68) January 3, 2025
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Opelka se convierte en el segundo tenista de peor ranking que gana a Djokovic
[pixels-player]
The defeat against Opelka raises some doubts in the campaign for the 25th Grand Slam. We analyze the reasons behind it and the current form in which the Serbian arrives in Melbourne.
Reilly Opelka has managed to surprise Novak Djokovic at the ATP Brisbane 2025, signing an impressive victory that leaves some doubts for the Serbian heading into Australia. The American's performance was spectacular, not only through his tremendous first serves but also his magnificent firmness with his forehand in the baseline exchanges. Thus, he breaks an impressive streak: he is the first American to defeat Djokovic since Sam Querrey at Wimbledon 2016. After nine years and 34 drought games, the one from Belgrade falls again to a player from the land of the stars and stripes.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Opelka "venga" a sus compatriotas: ¡rompió una racha de nueve años!
[pixels-player]
Reilly Opelka lived through a true hell in the last two seasons. He underwent three surgeries, including one on his hip where they removed a benign tumor, and thought about not returning to a tennis court. After months of hard work and sacrifice, the injuries are now a thing of the past, and the American is enjoying an enormous level to start off 2025, which has led him to defeat Novak Djokovic in what is surely one of the greatest victories of his career. After advancing to the semifinals of ATP Brisbane 2025, he couldn't contain the emotion on the court.
"It was very tough. There was a lot of uncertainty and many doubts. I watched a lot of my friends' matches on TV, I saw Tommy (Paul), Taylor (Fritz), Frances (Tiafoe), Ben (Shelton) doing great, which motivated me a lot. It kept me interested in this sport. I also saw Novak become the best of all time in the past two years. I stayed mentally strong, even when I was in a cast and on crutches, simply hopeful of having another opportunity like the one I had tonight". Now he will face Perricard in the semifinals.
"A lot of uncertainty, a lot of doubt ... you ask yourself 'What would Novak do in this situation?'" 🗣️
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) January 3, 2025
Reilly Opelka on coming back from injury and multiple surgeries to beat Novak Djokovic 👇 pic.twitter.com/UCdrWFB6d6
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las emotivas palabras de Opelka tras derrotar a Djokovic: "Hubo incertidumbre..."
[pixels-player]
Serbian surprises with loss in Brisbane quarterfinals against exceptional Opelka, who bombarded him with powerful shots and capitalized on his lack of power with his groundstrokes.
We analyze the possible match-ups in the final rounds of Australia among the best, with a substantial change this week within the top 8 of the ATP ranking.
Novak Djokovic has arrived in Australia eager to become a true conductor. Not only for his performance on the court, figuratively speaking, but even literally, incorporating a new instrument into his repertoire of celebrations. It's the saxophone: after his first two victories in Brisbane, the Serbian has celebrated on court using his racket as if he were starting to play said instrument, adding to his already known violin celebration, dedicated to his daughter Tara. He himself explains the background of this matter:
"My children have told me to have two types of celebration: my daughter told me to keep playing the violin if I win and my son told me to play the saxophone, so I try to incorporate both celebrations," smiled the one from Belgrade, who already includes Stefan in his 'musical' celebrations.
That’s not what he said… pic.twitter.com/82sf8ROVev
— ᖴᖇᗩᑎI (@frani2312) January 2, 2025
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic explica el motivo detrás de su nueva celebración
[pixels-player]