By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday April 8, 2022
Reilly Opelka reached his second career semifinal on clay to set a showdown with Nick Kyrgios.
Photo Source: Getty
Reilly Opelka and Nick Kyrgios are set to square off in a clay-court battle that will probably play a lot more like a grass-court match.
Opelka eased past Gijs Brouwer of the Netherlands, 6-3, 7-5 on Friday – the American entered this year’s draw with an 0-3 overall record on Houston.
Kyrgios, 9-3 on the season, received a walkover when American Michael Mmoh pulled out due to an injury. The Aussie reaches his third tour-level semifinal on clay, he also achieved the feat at Estoril in 2015 and 2016.
Opelka, who improved to 15-6 on the season with his win over Houston-born Brouwer, owns a 1-0 lifetime edge over Kyrgios. He defeated the Aussie at Toronto last year in the second round, and went on to reach the final.
"I'm excited to be in the semifinals against Reilly, someone who has been playing extremely well for the last couple of years and finding his game and executing. I'm excited to go out there again in front of the Houston crowd," Kyrgios said.
There were a total of 38 aces fired in the contest, 22 by Opelka.
2019 Champion Garin Remains Undefeated at Houston
Cristian Garin improved to 8-0 lifetime at Houston by taking out Taylor Fritz, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3 to reach the semis. He will face either Frances Tiafoe or John Isner on Saturday.
Garin snaps a personal seven-match losing streak against the Top-20 with his win. It has been a big week for the Chilean, who entered the week with a 3-7 record on the season, riding a five-match losing streak.
I'm so tired," Garin said. "I think we have both run a lot, we fought ever point of the match. It's a consequence of the last month. I practiced a lot, I did a lot of changes in my life and my career, and I'm proud of that. I'm just so happy the way that I'm playing and fighting, and the attitude that I'm putting on the court."