ATP Dallas: Reilly Opelka fires 18 aces, beats Alexander Shevchenko

Reilly Opelka notched his sixth victory of the season on the dwelling ATP 500 occasion in Dallas. The previous world no. 17 confronted Alexander Shevchenko within the first spherical, incomes a 7-6, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 16 minutes.

The American fired 18 aces and confronted no break factors. He outplayed Shevchenko behind the second serve and grabbed pivotal factors en path to a stable win. The Kazakh performed towards one break level within the second set. He acquired broke and sealed his destiny towards such a powerful server.

They hit the identical variety of service winners and stayed neck and neck from the baseline. Opelka tamed his strokes beautifully and fired 40 winners and 19 unforced errors. He dominated along with his forehand and sealed the deal in straight units.

On the street again to title type 🚀

2022 champ Reilly Opelka feeling nice in Dallas.#DALOpen pic.twitter.com/XraktcdJEN

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) February 5, 2025

The house participant secured the primary recreation of the duel with a volley winner and landed a forehand winner two video games later for a maintain at love. Alexander adopted the rival’s tempo and closed the eighth recreation at 30 to lock the consequence at 4-4 and enhance the drama.

Alexander Shevchenko & Reilly Opelka, Dallas 2025© Stream screenshot

Opelka closed the ninth recreation after a deuce, they usually offered three comfy holds to introduce a tie break. Reilly grabbed two early mini-breaks, cracking a backhand return winner and transferring 3-0 in entrance. The American fired two winners on serve for a 5-0 benefit.

He fired a booming serve at 5-3 for set factors and grabbed the third mini-break on the primary, wrapping up the primary a part of the duel in 45 minutes. Reilly delivered 5 commanding holds within the second set and saved the strain on the opposite aspect.

Opelka generated his solely break level within the third recreation and drew the rival’s mistake to open a set and a break benefit. The American landed an ace within the fourth recreation to substantiate the break and repeated that two video games later for a 4-2 lead.

The Kazakh closed the seventh recreation at love and remained in contact. Nevertheless, Reilly landed one other ace within the eighth recreation and cast a 5-3 lead. The American sealed the take care of an unreturned serve, transferring excessive in model and making a profitable begin.