In an astounding turn of events, U.S. tennis player Reilly Opelka astoundingly defeated Novak Djokovic in Brisbane.
In an astounding turn of events, U.S. tennis player Reilly Opelka astoundingly defeated Novak Djokovic in Brisbane.
Novak Djokovic aims to secure his 25th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open later this month, but his momentum might not be at its best.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion suffered a straight-sets defeat against 6-foot-11 American Reilly Opelka in the quarterfinals at Brisbane, losing 7-6(6), 6-3.
This marked Opelka's first top-10 victory since 2021. The 27-year-old Opelka has had an injury-plagued season since then, making it challenging for him to play a full season.
However, Opelka wasn't overawed by Djokovic's reputation. In his post-match interview, he stated, "He's the best player the sport has ever seen. It's hard being in his position. He can analyze me or any opponent for hours... the truth is, we have nothing to lose against him. You end up playing more freely. You take more risks because even if you play at your best, he'll still win. It's tough being in his position because he gets opponents who are willing to take risks. On days like this, when things go my way, that's how it turns out."
Djokovic's Australian Open hopes took a hit in Brisbane as he also lost in the doubles event with Nick Kyrgios, falling to the top-seeded pair of Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.
Opelka moves on to face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the semifinals.
With the Australian Open commencing on January 12, Djokovic will strive to break the tie with Margaret Court and secure his 25th major title.
Djokovic had shared his intentions before the tournament, stating he plans to participate in more tournaments this year than in 2023 and believes he can maintain his form for several more years.
"I'm aiming for a strong start to the season, more consistency across all tournaments," Djokovic, ranked 7th in the world, said in Brisbane, Australia.
"I'm aiming to participate in more tournaments this year than last, so hopefully, my level will also improve,**" added Djokovic, who turns 38 in May. "Hopefully, I'll win a few more tournaments and improve my ranking."
Despite the loss in Brisbane, Novak Djokovic's focus remains on securing additional Grand Slam titles, acknowledging the business side of sports. With a stronger tournament schedule planned for 2024, Djokovic hopes to monetize his skills and maintain his form for several more years.