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American tennis star Reilly Opelka is "curious" to see how will fellow compatriot Jenson Brooksby perform against top-seeded Novak Djokovic in the US Open round-of-16. Brooksby, 20, has enjoyed a big summer, ending runner-up in Newport and making the semifinal in Washington.
Brooksby has now made his maiden Grand Slam round-of-16 and he is set for the biggest match of his career. “I’m curious to see his match with Djokovic,” Opelka said, per Tennishead. “I think he can give Djokovic a lot of fits because he’s just tricky.
Nakashima is as pure of a ball-striker as there is. I think the young guys are going to be the guys to beat from the American standpoint”. Opelka also tipped fellow Americans Brandon Nakashima and Sebastian Korda to do big things at the Grand Slam level in the future.
“I mean, I think it’s just one week,” Opelka added. “I think Brooksby is going to be a big second-week guy. Nakashima. I think Korda. I think the young guys are better than us, if I’m being honest.
I think Korda is a hell of a player. Brooksby is brutal”.
Brooksby looking forward to facing Djokovic
Brooksby, ranked at No. 99 in the world, has nothing to lose and having a chance to play 20-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will be a great experience for him.
"Yeah, it will be a great challenge. One of the toughest there can be. But I'm really believing in myself with what I'm showing out there so far. I got a great team around me to help me recover tomorrow. Yeah, I go out there to battle again on I'm sure Ashe probably, I would assume," Brooksby said of facing Djokovic.
"Yeah, I mean, that will be really exciting. I'm sure it will be a full crowd. I'm excited to see how well I can focus, see how well I can play with one of the biggest challenges and with one of the biggest crowds in a court that you can get."