Reilly Opelka, the 2020 Delray Beach champ, is back and ready to rumble against fellow American Brandon Nakashima in the R16! Opelka’s had a rough go of it, returning to the tour in July 2024 after an 8-month break. Injuries have definitely been a major challenge for him, and we even saw him struggling a bit earlier this year. But, you know what? He pulled off a stunner at the Brisbane International, beating his “hero,” Novak Djokovic, in the quarterfinals! So, the big question now: can the 23-year-old Nakashima pull off an upset against the more experienced Opelka?

Reilly Opelka vs Brandon Nakashima: Preview

After his heroics in Brisbane, he failed to impress his fans at the 2025 Australian Open, but did manage to reach the QF of the Dallas Open. In this tournament, Opelka has already beaten his compatriot, Christopher Eubanks, in his previous match by 6-3,7-6(7). Can he outclass his other countryman in the next match?

Brandon Nakashima reached the R16 of the Adelaide International. Well, Brandon Nakashima made early exits from his next two tournaments (Australian Open and the Dallas Open). However, he managed to put up a dominating performance in the R32 of the Delray Beach Open against the Japanese tennis player, James Kent Trotter. Does he stand a chance against someone like Opelka?

Opelka vs Nakashima: Head-to-Head

Opelka has met Nakashima only once so far. Currently, the American has a 1-0 lead in the H2H record.

• 2022 Sydney QF: Opelka 7-6(4),6-2.

Prediction: Opelka to win in straight sets

Although Reilly Opelka’s injury concerns have played a major role in his sudden downfall, still, this American has already given us a glimpse of his potential in the 2025 season. He has been in a better form if we draw a comparison with his compatriot, Brandon Nakashima. Talking about form, well Reilly Opelka (121) currently has a win-loss record of 3-3 in this season. Well, Brandon Nakashima has managed to put up a win-loss record of just 2-4 as of now.

Apart from that, we must not forget that Opelka won this title in 2020 and he even reached the final in the 2022 season. Talking about their playing styles, the 6ft 11 inches tall, Reilly Opelka can use his height incredibly well to generate real power behind his serves. In the 2025 season, he has already hit 185 aces! Opelka is the ace king of Delray Beach! He holds the tournament record for most aces served in a single tournament, blasting a whopping 99 back in 2022. Apart from his lethal serves, Reilly Opelka also has a good volley and an incredible reach in the courts. Nakashima also needs to watch out for his strong down-the-line backhand shot!

On the other side, Brandon Nakashima is more of a baseline player and his game is characterized by strong and flat strokes. He possesses a well-balanced game and also has excellent court coverage. Nakashima literally has all the weapons to succeed on the fast hardcourts, and his strong double-handed backhand is one of his biggest weapons. Apart from that, Brandon Nakashima is also a good serve, but is it enough to outclass someone like Reilly Opelka? Well, looks a bit unlikely at the moment!