Brisbane International presented by Evie—Australia
Opelka Reaches Brisbane Final; Osaka Advances to Auckland Final; Nishikori Makes Hong Kong Final
Towering American Reilly Opelka withstood 10 aces from his opponent and added 12 of his own to advance to the Brisbane International final on Saturday. Defeating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-3, 7-6(4), Opelka needed one hour and 26 minutes to advance.
Defeating Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe en-route to the semifinals, Perricard will be ranked No. 30 on Monday.
Opelka, who defeated top seed Novak Djokovic on Friday, will be looking for his fifth career title on Sunday against Jiri Lehecka.
Lehecka advanced when defending champion and No. 2 seed Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire trailing 6-4, 4-4.
Opelka and Lehecka have never played on Tour.
On the women’s side, top seed Aryna Sabalenka will look to start her 2025 season off in style when she faces Polina Kudermetova in Sunday’s final.
Defeating No. 8 seed Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday, Sabalenka will be aiming for her 18th Tour title.
Kudermetova ousted Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-3 to reach the finals. She will be aiming to win her third career title against Sabalenka.
*****
ASB Classic—Auckland, New Zealand
Japanese star Naomi Osaka took one step closer to claiming her eighth career Tour title on Saturday, defeating Alycia Parks 6-4, 6-2.
Osaka hit four aces and won 75 percent of her first serve points during the one hour and 11 minute affair.
The 27-year-old will next face No. 5 seed Clara Tauson from Denmark in Sunday’s final. Tauson ousted Robin Montgomery from the United States 6-4, 6-3.
Tauson also defeated top seed Madison Keys 6-4, 7-6(4) in the quarterfinals.
*****
Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open—Hong Kong
Former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori raced into his 27th career final on Saturday in Hong Kong, China, advancing after his opponent Juncheng Shang was forced to retire at 4-3 in the first set with an illness.
Nishikori, who will be aiming to win his 13th career title, will next face Alexandre Muller from France in Sunday’s final.
Muller defeated Jaume Munar 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 earlier in the day. The 27-year-old also dismissed No. 4 seed Arthur Fils in the quarterfinals.
Muller will be playing in his second career title match after losing in the Marrakech, Morocco final in 2023 to Roberto Carballes Baena.
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