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Stefanos Tsitsipas Australian Open 2021
ATP Tennis Players, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tennis News

Reilly Opelka ousts Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach maiden Masters final


Reilly Opelka has secured another career milestone by upsetting Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach his first Masters 1000 championship match.

The big-serving American will do battle with top seed Daniil Medvedev in the Toronto Masters final after rallying to defeat the Greek 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in just over two and a half hours on-court.

Both men served strongly, with Tsitsipas and Opelka winning 87% and 77% of points behind their first serves respectively, as neither surrendered a break point in the first two sets.

“It’s live, for sure, favours a big serve,” Opelka said after the match of the conditions in play. One break in the third was all that he needed to seal the match and set up his showdown with Medvedev.

Opelka’s previous best result at Masters 1000 level came earlier in 2021 in Rome, reaching the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.

The result also means the 23-year-old American is set to break into the top-25 for the first time in his career, and could even climb into the top-20 were he to secure the title in Toronto.


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