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Match Details
Fixture: (PR) Reilly Opelka vs (Q) Gauthier Onclin
Date: January 12, 2025
Tournament: Australian Open 2025
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
Prize Money: A$ 86,500,000
Live telecast: USA - ESPN & Tennis Channel | UK - Eurosport | India - Sony Sports & Sony Liv
Reilly Opelka vs Gauthier Onclin preview
Big-serving American Reilly Opelka will look to get his Australian Open campaign underway with a win as he takes on Belgian qualifier Gauthier Onclin in the first round. Opelka made a comeback to the Tour last year, after being out of action for more than a year due to injury. He only played 18 matches in 2024 but reached one semifinal at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport.
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However, Opelka made a great start to the 2025 season at Brisbane International. The American reached the final with wins over the likes of Matteo Arnaldi (7-6 (9) 7-6 (4) ), Novak Djokovic (7-6 (6), 6-3), and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (6-3, 7-6 (4)). In the final against Jiri Lehecka, the American retired in the first set, while trailing 1-4.
The Challenger Tour and the ITF circuit are where Gauthier Onclin has played most of his tennis in the last few years. The Belgian has struggled to make a mark on the ATP Tour. However, at the Challenger and ITF events, he reached seven finals last year, winning three titles.
Onclin has shown some good form coming into the main draw of the Australian Open. In the first round of qualifying, he won 1-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7) over Roman Andres Burruchaga. In the next round, he won 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1 against Aleksandar Kovacevic. In the final round, the Belgian went past Mackenzie Mcdonald, winning 6-7 (7), 7-6 (5), 6-1 to enter the main draw.
Reilly Opelka vs Gauthier Onclin head-to-head
This will be the first time the two players will play each other on the Tour and hence the head-to-head stands at 0-0.
Reilly Opelka vs Gauthier Onclin odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Reilly Opelka vs Gauthier Onclin prediction
Opelka has not been able to break through at the Majors. Before the 2025 edition, the American has won only four matches at the Australian Open. However, he has won three hard-court titles in his career so far, the last of which was the 2022 Dallas Open where he won 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) against Jenson Brooksby in the final.
This is going to be the debut Grand Slam match for Gauthier Onclin. However, since last year, the 23-year-old Belgian has been on a winning streak of 13 matches, which saw him win every one of his qualifying matches from being a set down on every occasion.
Given the style of both players, the match might see multiple tiebreakers. Given Opelka's form and experience, the American should come through and qualify for the next round.
Pick - Opelka to win in straight sets
