Opelka SHOCKS De Minaur! US Open Seed in Jeopardy?! You Won't Believe It!
De Minaur Stunned by Opelka in Cincinnati!
Alex de Minaur's US Open preparations have hit a snag after a surprising defeat to Reilly Opelka at the Cincinnati Open. The Australian No. 1, fresh off a title win in Washington, was looking to build momentum heading into the final Grand Slam of the year. However, the towering American Opelka proved too much to handle on a sweltering Sunday, winning 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.
De Minaur had previously dominated Opelka, winning all five of their previous encounters. However, Opelka, currently ranked No. 73 in the world, played inspired tennis to secure the victory. This loss is a significant blow to de Minaur's hopes of securing a top-eight seed at the US Open.
The defeat means de Minaur is now vulnerable to dropping out of the top eight before the US Open. A deep run by Karen Khachanov in Cincinnati could jeopardize his seeding. A top-eight seed is crucial as it ensures avoiding top players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz until at least the quarter-finals.
Other Notable Results from Cincinnati
While de Minaur suffered a setback, other Australians had more success. Adam Walton pulled off a massive upset, defeating former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in three sets. Alexei Popyrin also secured a strong win, defeating Martin Landaluce. These victories highlight the depth of Australian talent heading into the US Open.
The Cincinnati Open serves as a crucial warm-up event for the US Open, providing players with valuable match practice on hard courts. The conditions in Cincinnati can be challenging, as evidenced by Medvedev's struggles with the heat during his match against Walton.
What's Next for De Minaur?
De Minaur will be hoping to bounce back quickly from this defeat and regain his confidence before the US Open. He'll need to focus on his serve and return game to compete with the top players in New York. Despite this setback, de Minaur remains a dangerous player and a contender for a deep run at the US Open.