Reilly Opelka defeated Jack Draper in straight sets, 7-6 (7-3), in the second round of the Miami Open on Friday, marking the first career meeting between the two players.
The match, played on the Grandstand court, saw Opelka establish early dominance with a series of aces. According to reports, Opelka secured the first set after a tie-break, capitalizing on Draper’s struggles to return serve. The American initially moved to a 4-1 lead in the first set, benefiting from a fortunate net cord that extended a rally.
Draper, ranked 26th, had been coming off a quarter-final appearance in Indian Wells where he lost to Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 7-5 on March 12th. Despite a brief rally, including an ace of his own, Draper was unable to overcome Opelka’s powerful serve.
Tennis Tonic predicted a win for Draper, citing initial odds of 1.23 for the Briton compared to Opelka’s 4.15. Yet, Opelka proved the more effective player on the day.
Draper’s overall career record stands at 261-115, with a 123-48 record on hard courts. This Miami Open appearance marked his third time reaching the second round, having previously achieved the same result in 2022, 2024, and 2025.
The match represents the first competitive encounter between Draper and Opelka, with no prior head-to-head record existing before Friday’s contest.
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