Reilly Opelka has been dominated so thoroughly by Alex de Minaur over six years on the ATP Worle Tour, the American jokingly referred to the Australian as his “dad” on social media.
Opelka has lost all five of their ATP matches since 2019 in Sydney, Atlanta, Cincy, Basel and most recently Queens Club in 2022.
Today the two contrasting styles are clashing again at Cincinnati Open second round. Opelka, ranked 73 in the world actually has won the first set from his kryptonite nemesis in a tiebreaker 8-6. It’s a good sign for the gentle giant as he has never won the first set vs the world no. 8, in fact he’s only won two sets vs de Minaur in their previous five meetings, both in second set tiebreakers, in Cincy and Atlanta.
Both turned pro in 2015. Opelka is 27 years old and has won four ATP singles titles, de Minaur is 26 and collected ten ATP singles titles.
Opelka said during a Tennis Channel interview this week that the $260m upgrades to the Cincy Open facility have made it the second best venue on the ATP World Tour after only Wimbledon.
Alex de Minaur · Cincinnati Masters · Cincy Open · Reilly Opelka
Scoop Malinowski · August 10, 2025 at 9:19 pm
Father did not know best today as the big serve bot prevailed 76 64. But serve bot is actually a positive nickname as every player on earth wishes they could serve like Opelka. Every player on earth would set ace records – IF THEY COULD. But they can’t because they aren’t good enough. Big serving is not easy, if it was everybody would do it.
Scoop Malinowski · August 10, 2025 at 9:21 pm
Michael Zheng, USA, won his first ATP Challenger today in Chicago 26 64 61. Two weeks ago I wrote an article suggesting he was on the verge of a big breakout. Did anybody else in tennis media make this prediction? No.
Sam · August 15, 2025 at 3:20 am
Two weeks ago I wrote an article suggesting he was on the verge of a big breakout.
Whew—good thing he didn’t apply any Clearasil. 😉
Scoop Malinowski · August 15, 2025 at 8:42 am
Worst acne in ATP since Teymuraz Gabashvili. And no this is not to imply or deny steroid use.
Sam · August 24, 2025 at 5:07 am
Yeah, acne can be caused my many different factors.