Novak Djokovic was surprisingly eliminated in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Brisbane, Australia on Friday. The Serbian lost to American Reilly Opelka, the world number 293. Due to the defeat, Djokovic will have to wait for his hundredth ATP title.
Djokovic survived three break chances in the first set, but still lost to Opelka in the exciting tiebreak. In the second set, the 27-year-old service gun needed only one break: 6-7 (6) and 3-6.
Opelka has struggled with injuries in recent years. The 2.11-meter tennis player reached his highest position on the ATP ranking in February 2022. He was then number seventeen in the world. Half a year later, the decline set in.
The 37-year-old Djokovic was on the hard court in Brisbane chasing the 100th ATP title of his career. In the Open era, only Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) reached this milestone.
Djokovic prepared in Brisbane for the Australian Open, which starts on January 12. The current number seven in the world ranking hopes to win his eleventh title in Melbourne.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was stranded in the semi-finals of the Australian Open last year, when the veteran lost to eventual winner Jannik Sinner.
