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The 37-year-old Djokovic was playing his first
tournament of the year. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is
preparing for the Australian Open, which starts on Jan. 12 and
which he has won 10 times.
“Amazing tennis, Reilly. Absolutely deserved,” Djokovic wrote on
Instagram.
Opelka served 16 aces — including one to finish off each set —
to earn one of the biggest wins of the American’s career.
“I was just focused on my spots,” Opelka said. “If I hit them,
it’s hard to get them back. If there’s anyone that can, it’s
him.
“We have nothing to lose coming in against him. He’s the
greatest player ever,” Opelka added. “So you end up playing more
free and you take a lot more risk. If you play your normal level
or even above a normal level, he’s going to win every time. So
it’s tough in his position because he gets guys that are good
players that they roll the dice. And on a on a day like this
when a lot of things go my way that’s how it works out.”
New coach Andy Murray will join Djokovic in Melbourne.
Opelka achieved a career-high ranking of No. 17 in Feb. 2022
before undergoing hip surgery later that year to remove a benign
tumor. He’s now No. 293.
“It was tough. A lot of uncertainty, a lot of doubt,” Opelka
said.
In the semifinals, Opelka will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard,
who beat Jakub Mensik 7-5, 7-6 (5). The other semifinal will
feature Jiri Lehecka against Grigor Dimitrov.
Lehecka beat Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 6-4 and Dimitrov advanced when
Jordan Thompson retired while Dimitrov was ahead 6-1, 2-1.
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