Novak Djokovic vs Reilly Opelka Prediction ATP Brisbane Tennis Picks 1/3/25

Competing in just his second main draw appearance at the Brisbane International, Novak Djokovic posted his first two wins at the event this week.

Djokovic beat Australia's Rinky Hijikata in the first round 6-3, 6-3 to start his 2025 campaign in the best possible manner. It was also his first match win on the ATP Tour since October 2024 when he beat Taylor Fritz to make the Shanghai final.

In the second round, Djokovic defeated France's Gael Monfils, also by the identical score of 6-3, 6-3. It was the 20th successive victory over Monfils without reply, confirming it as the most dominant h2h in ATP history. 

In the victory, Djokovic hit five aces and one double fault. He got 65% of first serves in play and won 76% of first-serve points (26/34). Djokovic won 67% of second-serve points (12/18) and saved the one break point he faced.

Djokovic won 44% of return points (21/48) and converted all three break points on the Monfils serve.

Djokovic finished the match with 11 winners and 17 unforced errors. 

Reilly Opelka Preview

Reilly Opelka is playing in his ninth ATP main draw since making his comeback from injury in the middle of last season. He's won successive matches at the Brisbane International, the first time he's done so at Tour level since Newport last July.

Opelka beat Agustin Gomez in the first round in a match that took 22 games to decide. In the second round, he accounted for a good win over Matteo Arnaldi.

The American was a +143 underdog to reach the quarterfinal in Brisbane but needed about two hours to prevail in two tie-break sets. 

Opelka hammered 25 aces and six double faults. He landed 67% of first serves and won 84% of first-serve points. HE won 46% of second-serve points (13/28) and saved one of two break points.

Opelka finished the match with 44 winners and 46 unforced errors.

Novak Djokovic vs Reilly Opelka Head-To-Head

• Djokovic and Opelka will clash for the first time on Friday at the Brisbane International.

Novak Djokovic vs Reilly Opelka Prediction

Opelka stuttered towards the end of his match against Arnaldi but got the job done on his third match point. His serve remains his biggest asset and probably the only significant shot in his arsenal that can worry Djokovic. But the former World No. 1 is regarded as the finest returner of a tennis ball, and even at 37, those powers have not diminished in the slightest. Opelka is about to find out how to deal with ankle length returns and having to step out rather inside the baseline to hit his second shot after the serve. Luckily for him, he'll still have success to rack up cheap points and keep it close.