Reilly Opelka made a winning start at the ATP 250 event in Adelaide.
The American fired 22 aces in a 6-3, 7-6 victory over Alexei Popyrin in an hour and 23 minutes.
Reilly on the RUN 🏃
Incredible pass from #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/mpkncW6HMK
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 12, 2026
Both players dominated after landing in the first serve. Opelka defended his second serve more efficiently and saved the only break point offered to his opponent. The home player faced two break points and dropped serve once in the opener.
They both hit more winners than unforced errors, and the American took the pivotal points to emerge at the top. Reilly dropped a couple of points in five service games of the opening set.
He drew Alexei's error in the sixth game for break points and converted the second with a brilliant forehand crosscourt winner that sent him in front. Opelka closed the seventh game with a service winner and moved 5-2 up after only 20 minutes.
The American served for the opener at 5-3 and landed a perfect drop shot winner for a hold at love and 6-3 in 26 minutes. They served well in the opening nine games of the second set.
Reilly Opelka & Alexei Popyrin, Adelaide 2026© Stream screenshot
Popyrin held at love at 4-4 with an ace and stepped in on the return in the next one. Reilly netted a routine backhand and faced the only break point of the match. He denied a set point with a powerful serve and landed another for 5-5.
The set went into a tie break, and we saw good serves in the opening 12 points. Opelka landed a 229 km/h serve at 5-5 to earn a match point. Alexei saved it with a service winner and locked the result at 6-6.
The Aussie missed a forehand in the 13th point and offered his rival the second match point. Reilly seized it after Alexei's forehand error to seal the deal and move into the second round.
