Reilly Opelka followed up his win over Novak Djokovic by beating an in-form Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the Brisbane International semifinals on Saturday. In a matchup between two of the biggest servers on tour, Opelka saved all four of the break points he faced while advancing in one hour and 26 minutes.
The 27-year-old American will play in his first final since 2022 against Jiri Lehecka, who got a retirement from Grigor Dimitrov.
“It is great to be in another final,” Opelka assured. “I didn’t think I would be playing one of these at all after the past year. One guy–kind of a miracle–a Canadian guy fixed me and I started training and once I was out of pain the confidence came back.”
Like Opelka, Kei Nishikori has dealt with all kinds of injury problems. Much later in his career at 35 years old, the Japanese veteran is healthy now and also finds himself in a final–his first since 2019–on Sunday. Nishikori advanced at the Bank of China Open when he got a first-set retirement from Jerry Shang on Saturday.
“I had a fever last night and today has been a really tough day,” Shang explained. “Me standing here is a miracle and I am sorry and I will be back next year.”
Nishikori’s free pass sends him into the championship match against Alexandre Muller, who won his fourth consecutive three-set match–this one over Jaume Munar.
Opelka on fire
When he’s hot, he’s really unplayable.
And unpredictable, did well at Rome from nowhere