Reilly Opelka triumphs over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a thrilling Brisbane International semifinal clash. The towering American, standing at 6’11”, secured a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6(4) victory against the 6’8″ Frenchman, reaching his first ATP Tour final since 2022. This win marks Opelka’s 100th tour-level victory and his seventh tour-level final appearance. His comeback is particularly remarkable, given he missed the majority of the past two years due to wrist and hip injuries. “It is great to be in another final. I didn’t think I would be playing one of these at all after the past year,” Opelka commented, crediting a Canadian physiotherapist with his recovery.
The 85-minute match showcased Opelka’s dominant serve. He won an impressive 85 percent (40/47) of his first-serve points, saved all four break points he faced, and fired 12 aces. Despite a medical timeout for a wrist injury in the first set, Opelka remained unfazed, attributing the issue to a minor tweak sustained during a reaction shot. He praised his opponent, stating, “This guy is tough. I have watched him beat Sebastian Korda at Wimbledon and it was really impressive. He is an athlete and has a body like that. He serves so well and moves so well.” While Mpetshi Perricard, known for his powerful serve (75 aces in his previous three matches), struck 10 more against Opelka, an early service lapse proved costly.
Meanwhile, in the first semifinal, Jiri Lehecka advanced to his fourth ATP Tour final after defending champion Grigor Dimitrov retired due to injury. Lehecka, leading 6-4, 4-4, had been exceptionally strong on serve, winning 85 percent (22/26) of his first-serve points and not facing a single break point before the match’s premature conclusion. The Czech player, currently ranked No. 26, boasts strong memories of Australia, having won his maiden tour-level title in Adelaide last year. He now faces Opelka in Sunday’s championship match.