This is the story of the cannons, because there he is again, making misdeeds with the serve and sneaking into the semifinals of the Brisbane tournament after beating the Czech Jakub Mensik 7-5 and 7-6(5); In order not to lose good habits, another 19 direct serves on the scorecard, then add 75 in the three interventions this week. Bestial. And out there another giant appears again, the American Reilly Opelka, an aspiring reborn. After two dark years and three trips under the knife – a career in the air, in reality – luck finally smiles on the American and he enjoys himself on the court, also mallet in hand. With 16 aces He topples and signs a brilliant victory, who knows if it is a prelude to a beautiful comeback (7-6(6) and 6-3).
Opelka has recently been suspended on two crutches, following a hip operation in which surgeons removed a benign tumor, and before that it was his right wrist that put him at the crossroads and made him have a hard time. Now, finally, good winds for him, a 2.11 big man who, in his day, not so long ago, February 2022, rose to 17th place in the ranking. Logical, then, the emotion of the moment. Those very heartfelt words. “It has been very hard. There was a lot of uncertainty and many doubts. I watched , on TV, and that kept me very motivated, connected to this sport. I stayed strong and hopeful that I would have another chance, and here I am,” he says after defeating the Balkan.
It was the first time that both of them met and the Serbian, an empathetic and legendary guy, hugs him and pats him on the back a couple of times, knowing the situation. Know how to win, know how to lose. He had overcome the first two matches without problems, against Hijikata and Monfils, but on this occasion the incessant rain of services left him off the map. That is to say, doubts, since a defeat against the 293rd in the world and – from the 12th to the 26th of this month – is never easy to digest, although at the beginning of the year, everything still to be calibrated, the scenario is highly unpredictable. There will be skids. With the aim of catching the 25th big that would break the historic tie with the Australian Margaret Court, the player from Belgrade processes, rests and analyzes.
You’ll have to wait. The 100th title is within reach, but it won’t come before, at least, Melbourne. In any case, Nole, 37 years old, is warming up as tennis appreciates the return of Opelka, undeniable with the service in the first set —83% effectiveness, 83% in the first and six out of six with the seconds— and early in the break that puts the second on track. With a chassis typical of an NBA center, he celebrates with restraint. The prize goes beyond the moment. Their league is different, but there it is. Bingo before Djokovic himself. “Novak is the best player in the history of this sport. But it’s hard to be in his position. The reality is that we have nothing to lose against him… So you end up playing more freely,” he closes before addressing the fight with Mpetshi Perricard.
Missile Saturday, for sure.
SABALENKA, FRONT OF ANDREEVA
A. C.
The women’s draw will hold an attractive confrontation between Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva. The Belarusian, current governor of the circuit and champion for the last two years in Australia, beat Marie Bouzkova (6-3 and 6-4) and will meet the young Russian, tutored by Conchita Martínez and superior this Friday to Ons Jabeur (6 -4 and 7-6(2).
It so happens that Andreeva was the opponent who dispatched him in the last edition of Roland Garros. In any case, Minsk dominates in the individual matches by 2-1. In the other match for the final will be Anhelina Kalinina (4-6, 6-1 and 7-5 against Kimberly Birrell) and Polina Kudermetova (7-6 (5) and 6-3) against Ashley Krueger.
