The data you don’t expect: Novak Djokovic’s elimination at the Brisbane International was quite surprising, but what has puzzled Nole’s fans is a particular negative record that has characterized the start of the season of the Serbian champion.
Nole was defeated in the quarterfinals of the Australian tournament by Reilly Opelka, former number 17 ATP who returned to the Tour after a long absence due to multiple injuries. The 27-year-old American won with a score of 7-6(6) 6-3 over the former number 1 ATP, inflicting a historic defeat on the 24-time Slam champion.
In fact, Opelka – currently No.293 in the ATP ranking, became the second player with the lowest ranking to beat the Serbian star. At the top of this curious ranking is the countryman of the Serbian champion, Filip Krajinovic, who, in the Belgrade tournament, defeated Nole as number 319 ATP.
Reilly Opelka & Novak Djokovic, Brisbane 2025© Stream screenshot
On that occasion, however, the 24-time Slam champion retired after losing the first set 6-4, not completing the match. The most recent defeat suffered by Djokovic dates back to 2024, when it was the Italian Luca Nardi, ranked 123rd, who prevailed over the Serbian in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Despite the large gap in the rankings between Djokovic and Opelka, it is however worth highlighting the level of the American tennis player, fresh from a two-year ordeal but capable of winning four ATP titles in his career.
The American, who upon his return in July 2024 at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport had already set the record for the lowest-ranked ATP tournament semifinalist ever, played an incredible tournament in Brisbane, pushing all the way to the final without conceding a single set to his opponents (including Djokovic). With the final earned, the 27-year-old American has already gained 122 positions, reaching 171st place in the world men’s ranking, valid for a place in the Australian Open qualifiers.
Who knows if the Australian tournament can relaunch the ambitions of the former number 17, always recognized as the strongest hitters on the entire ATP Tour. Also Nole ha strong ambition in Mebourne: he wants his 25th Major and 100 title of his glorious career.
Tennis World USA