Djokovic’s Title Drought

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic fell short of reaching the milestone of 100 ATP Tour titles after losing in the quarterfinals of Brisbane International to Reilly Opelka with a scoreline of 6-7(6), 3-6 on January 3.

Djokovic Misses Chance to Secure 100th ATP Tour Title

Reilly Opelka, who spent the past two years battling a wrist injury, pulled off one of the biggest victories of his career. Throughout the match, the American “serve machine” allowed Djokovic only one break-point, which he successfully defended. Opelka clinched the first set via a tiebreak and secured the match by winning the only return game of the contest, advancing to the semifinals.

Djokovic’s ATP Tour title drought continues, with his last trophy being at the ATP Finals in November 2023. The Serbian star remains stuck at 99 titles, raising doubts as the Australian Open—set to begin in a week—draws closer.

Djokovic Struggles to Regain Top Form

After the match, Djokovic admitted: “I anticipated a tough challenge, but the reality was harsher. I have a lot to work on in the coming days.” Without coach Andy Murray by his side, Djokovic had the support of his wife and children, who had flown to Australia to cheer him on.

Standing at 6’11” (2.11m), Opelka fired 16 aces and excelled in long rallies. The American confidently attacked with his backhand, leaving Djokovic helpless on several occasions. Facing a player 10 years his senior for the first time, Opelka stated he had “nothing to lose,” and his fearless mindset was evident in his powerful baseline strokes.

While Opelka’s performance exceeded expectations, Djokovic failed to deliver his best tennis. Unlike his straightforward win against Gael Monfils in the previous round, Djokovic struggled with Opelka’s heavy shots. The Serbian faced five break-points in the match and lost the second set after surrendering a crucial break.

Djokovic as a Source of Inspiration

“Novak Djokovic is my biggest inspiration,” Opelka shared after the match, reflecting on his return to peak performance after a two-year injury hiatus. “During my time away, I tried different jobs, but players like Djokovic kept me motivated to stick with tennis.”

In the semifinals, Opelka will face another “serve machine,” Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard from France. The other semifinal will see No. 2 seed Grigor Dimitrov clash with Jiri Lehecka. Dimitrov, the defending champion, defeated Holger Rune in last year’s final.