Novak Djokovic faced a shocking defeat at the Brisbane International on Friday, suffering an unexpected exit in the quarter-finals.
Playing in his first tournament since October, the Serbian star was knocked out by Reilly Opelka, who secured a 7-6(6) 6-3 victory. Opelka, currently ranked No. 293 after a two-year injury hiatus, gave Djokovic all sorts of trouble throughout the match.
Djokovic had breezed through his previous rounds, conceding just 12 games in his first two matches, but he knew Opelka, standing at an imposing 6’11”, would pose a significant challenge.
After his second-round win, Djokovic spoke about the danger Opelka presented. “Opelka has been injured for a couple of years and struggled a lot. He’s a great guy off the court, and we get along well. I’ve never played him before, but I know I’ll probably have to step back a bit for that first serve.”
Opelka’s powerful serve proved to be a key weapon, making it difficult for Djokovic to break him. The 37-year-old Serb had to save three break points late in the first set, but despite his best efforts, he couldn’t hold off Opelka’s surge. After 58 minutes, Opelka clinched the first set in a tight tiebreak. Djokovic had a chance to take control in the second set but squandered his only break point in the third game, a mistake that would prove costly.
Opelka kept applying pressure, breaking Djokovic in the next game and continuing his dominant serving to seal the win in straight sets.
With the victory, Opelka becomes the lowest-ranked player in tournament history to reach the semi-finals. This also marks his first win over a top-10 player since the 2021 Canadian Open.
After the match, the two shared a warm embrace at the net, followed by a lengthy conversation. Opelka, ever respectful, praised Djokovic’s achievements, calling him the greatest player of all time. “He’s the greatest tennis player this sport has ever seen,” said Opelka, reflecting on the challenge of facing Djokovic. “It’s difficult being in Novak’s position. He can scout me or any other opponent all day, but we have nothing to lose against him. He’s the greatest ever, so we play more freely, take more risks – it’s our only chance.”
Opelka acknowledged that while Djokovic’s level is consistently high, players like him take chances in hopes of a breakthrough. “If you play your normal game or even a bit above it, he wins every time. It’s tough for him because he faces players who will gamble on days like this, and sometimes it works out,” Opelka concluded.
