“What would Novak be doing in my situation?”: Reilly Opeka reflect’s on Djokovic’s influence after epic victory

Reilly Opelka delivered the upset of the week by defeating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 Brisbane International by 7-6(6), 6-3. The American had been out of action for nearly two years due to injuries, during which he underwent three surgeries.

The 27-year-old even considered retirement, as he revealed in 2024, but ultimately regained the motivation to return to top-level competition. Opelka made his comeback in mid-2024, playing a handful of tournaments and finishing the year with a 7-8 record, ranked World No. 293.

From retirement thoughts to defeating Djokovic

Starting the new season, Opelka achieved one of the biggest victories of his career, defeating Djokovic in their first-ever encounter. His previous win against a top-10 player came at the Canadian Open in 2021, where he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas.

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Following his victory over the former World No. 1, Opelka spoke about his time away from the courts and how he stayed connected to tennis by watching his American friends:

“It was tough. A lot of uncertainty, a lot of doubt,” the former World No. 17 said. “I definitely watched a lot of my friends on TV. I watched Tommy (Paul), Taylor (Fritz), Frances (Tiafoe), and Ben (Shelton) do great, which was fun and also motivating for me.”

“It definitely kept me interested in the sport. I watched Novak become the greatest in that two-year period,” he added during his on-court interview. “You find yourself asking, ‘What would Novak be doing in my situation?’

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“Even when you’re in a cast, you’re always trying to maximize, and that’s the effect he’s had on the sport. That’s why you see a guy like Jannik (Sinner), who reminds you of someone else 10 years ago, and Carlos (Alcaraz),” Opelka remarked. “I stayed the course, even when in a cast and on crutches, just hoping to have another chance like I did out here tonight.”

Opelka will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the semifinals. Throughout his career, the American has been known as one of the toughest players to break when serving. This week, he has already hit 50 aces in three matches. However, Mpetshi Perricard has proven to be an equally formidable server, racking up 75 aces in his three matches in Brisbane.

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