Match Details
Fixture: Reilly Opelka vs Jiri Lehecka
Date: January 5, 2025
Tournament: Brisbane International 2025
Round: Final
Venue: Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane, Australia
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize Money: $766,290
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+.
Reilly Opelka vs Jiri Lehecka preview
Two unseeded players will clash in the final of the Brisbane International as Reilly Opelka of the United States takes on Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic.
Opelka is enjoying a great run of form in the tournament. He is yet to drop a set in it and got the better of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-3, 7-6 in the semifinal. Prior to that, he had beaten top-seed Novak Djokovic, Matteo Arnaldi, and Federico Agustin Gomez.
Lehecka, meanwhile, caused a big upset by beating Holger Rune in the first round. He then beat Yoshihito Nishioka and Nicolas Jarry in his next two matches. He then won against Grigor Dimitrov through a walkover while leading 6-4, 4-4. He has lost a solitary set in the tournament so far.
Reilly Opelka vs Jiri Lehecka head-to-head
The two players have never locked horns at the ATP level. Thus, their head-to-head stands at 0-0 at the moment.
Reilly Opelka vs Jiri Lehecka odds
(Odds will be updated once available)
Reilly Opelka vs Jiri Lehecka prediction
Oopelka has exhibited top-quality ball striking in Brisbane so far. He has served with a lot of venom and has not given his opponents much chance on his own serve. The big American's powerful serve and groundstrokes have been great assets in that aspect. His ability to hit big from the baseline without needing much time to set himself up for the strokes has also been a highly useful quality.
But he will come up against a gritty opponent in Lehecka on Sunday. The Czech has a good defence and a solid backhand, which could help him hold his own against the 27-year-old American. If Lehecka is able to withstand the onslaught of Opelka's fierce strokes, he will stand a really good chance of beating the former.
However, since Opelka also has a very good down-the-line backhand, Lehecka might find it tough to gain the upper hand by engaging the American directly. Thus, Opelka will be the slight favorite in Sunday's final. Lehecka might win a set to make it a well-contested one, though.
Pick: Opelka to win in three sets.