Reilly Opelka faces the formidable eighth seed Daniil Medvedev on July 23, 2025, at the Mubadala Citi DC Open held at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Centre in Washington, USA. This second-round match, part of the ATP 500 tournament on hard courts, features two players with contrasting seasons and sets the stage for a tense contest. The Reilly Opelka Daniil Medvedev preview highlights a key clash where both athletes aim to improve their standings amid varying recent performances.
Current Form and Season Highlights for Both Competitors
Opelka has demonstrated a solid performance on hard surfaces this year, recording a 62.5% win rate that surpasses his overall results on other courts. His peak came early in the season at the ATP 250 event in Brisbane, where he notably defeated Matteo Arnaldi, Novak Djokovic, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. However, his momentum stalled with a forced retirement during the final against Jiri Lehecka due to injury. Since Brisbane, Opelka’s form has fluctuated. He exited in the second round of the Australian Open and struggled to regain consistency at home. Though reaching the quarterfinals in Dallas, he fell early in Delray Beach and Indian Wells but rebounded with a third-round run in Miami that included a victory over Holger Rune.
In Washington, Opelka narrowly won his opening match against Murphy Cassone with a score of 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-3, showing his resilience in a demanding encounter.
By contrast, Medvedev is enduring a challenging season, marked by early departures from major tournaments such as the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. This slump has cost him a spot in the ATP top 10 for the first time since early 2023, dropping him to World No. 14—the lowest rank he has held in over six years. Medvedev’s hard-court results have also faltered, with just 12 victories in 19 matches across seven events. Adding to the intrigue, this meeting with Opelka marks Medvedev’s first hard-court match in more than four months, raising questions about his current match readiness.
Historical Encounters Between Opelka and Medvedev
In their career head-to-head, Daniil Medvedev holds a 4-2 advantage over Reilly Opelka. Notably, their most recent meeting at the Libema Open saw Opelka defeat Medvedev in straight sets, breaking the pattern and demonstrating his capacity to challenge top-ranked opponents. This recent victory gives Opelka a psychological edge heading into their next contest.
Analyzing the Odds and Key Strengths of Each Player
Betting odds from BetMGM reflect the uncertainty surrounding this matchup, as both players have reasons to assert dominance. Opelka’s serving performance stands out: he maintains higher first and second serve percentages, averages 8.6 more aces per match, and commits fewer double faults than Medvedev on hard courts. These advantages in service statistics put Opelka in a strong position to control points.
Nevertheless, Medvedev’s experience and tactical skills make him a formidable opponent who is unlikely to concede easily. His ability to compete under pressure and adapt during matches suggests that Opelka will face a significant challenge despite his serving prowess.
Expectations for the Match Outcome
Considering recent form, service statistics, and the mental dynamics, the prediction favors Reilly Opelka to win in a tight three-set match. While Opelka seems to hold the upper hand, Medvedev’s experience and the stakes involved ensure this encounter will be intensely contested. Both players aim to secure a strong result to gain momentum in the Mubadala Citi DC Open and improve their respective rankings as the season progresses.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Reilly Opelka stop playing tennis?
A. Opelka defeated former world-ranked No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. However, he seemed to have wrist trouble during his semifinal victory against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Standing at 6-foot-11, Opelka was out of action for almost two years because of wrist and hip surgeries. He made his return to top-level tennis last season.
Q. Why did Reilly Opelka stop playing?
A. At the end of October 2023, Opelka came back to the ATP Challenger Tour, after not playing for nearly 18 months. His break was mainly because of a wrist injury. He played in the 2023 Charlottesville Men’s Pro Challenger. In his first match, he easily won against Tennys Sandgren, but then he withdrew in the second round.