Novak Djokovic was stunned by Reilly Opelka in the quarter-finals at the Brisbane International. (More Sports News)
Djokovic had been in🌳 fine form at the tournament this week, as he prepares for his Australian Open ca⛄mpaign.
Yet the Serbian's hopes of headi꧟ng to Melbourne with a 100th 🍒ATP Tour-level title under his belt were dashed by Opelka, who won 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 on Friday.
The American, ranked at🐈 293rd in the world ahead of the tournament, had never gone up against Djok🉐ovic previously, but showed no signs of fear as he forced a first-set tie-break, before breaking twice to take the lead.
Opelka maintained that momentum heading into the second set, and after claiming the decisive break to go 3-1 up, he sealed the win at the first time 🌳of asking.
"I just focused on hitting my spots," Opelka said. "If I hit them my spots, it is hard to get it back, but if anyone can it is him. I was ready for tha🍌t if it happened.
"He is the greatest tennis player the spor🦂t h♛as ever seen.
"It is difficult being in Novak's position because he can scout me all day long but the reality is we have nothing to lose coming in against him, he is t🍌he greatest player ever. So you end up playing more free and take more risks. If you play your normal level or even a little above your normal level he will win."
Opelka will face Giovanni Mpetꦗ𒈔shi Perricard in the semi-finals.
Data Debrief: Opelka makes history
Opelka is now up to 207 in🦋 the live ATP rankin💧gs, but ranked 293rd when he entered the competition, the 27-year-old is the lowest-ever ranked semi-finalist at the Brisbane International.
He is now 8-12 against players ranked in꧟ the top 10, though this will go down as his most memorable win to date.
