All eyes are on the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane this week as Reilly Opelka and Kamil Majchrzak gear up for a high-stakes clash in the round of 16 at the 2026 Brisbane International. The ATP 250 event, played on hard courts and boasting a prize purse of $680,140, has already delivered its fair share of drama—and this matchup promises even more fireworks.
Opelka, the towering American standing at 6-foot-11, arrives in Brisbane with a mix of momentum and memories. Just last season, he stunned the tennis world by toppling 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets to reach the semifinals in this very tournament. That run, however, ended in heartbreak when he was forced to retire mid-final against Jiri Lehecka due to a back injury. Despite the setback, Opelka’s 2025 season was a tale of resilience. He clawed his way from a lowly world No. 293 all the way up to No. 50, making quarterfinals and finals appearances even as injury woes lingered.
His 2026 campaign is off to a lively start. In the opening round, Opelka faced Australia’s Dane Sweeny, a player who stands a full sixteen inches shorter. The match itself was notable not just for Opelka’s trademark heavy serve, but for Sweeny’s memorable post-match gesture. After Opelka sealed the win with a booming serve, Sweeny grabbed a chair, placed it at the net, and stood atop it to share a handshake and embrace with the American. The crowd erupted in applause, relishing the lighthearted moment. Sweeny later explained, “I’m just trying to not be overly serious with my tennis. And I told the boys, my friends, that at the end of the match, I would do the Dudi Sela. Dudi Sela did it to Karlovic a while ago. So I thought that was pretty iconic and he’s 16 inches taller and I thought it’d be pretty funny.” He added, “I think it’s emblematic of the mindset I’m trying to take into this year. I’m just trying to have fun with it as a whole.”
With that win, Opelka booked his place in the round of 16, where he now faces Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak. The two are hardly strangers; Opelka leads their head-to-head 1-0, having edged Majchrzak in a pair of tight tiebreaks back at the Playford Challenger in 2018. But this time, the stakes are higher, and the players’ journeys to this point couldn’t be more different.
Majchrzak, currently ranked No. 59, is coming off a 2025 season highlighted by Challenger titles in Madrid and Grodzisk Mazowiecki and a semifinal appearance in San Diego. While he didn’t claim any major titles, his consistency on hard courts has been impressive. Over the past year, Majchrzak has compiled a 13-11 record on the surface, winning 78.8% of his service games and converting 36.8% of break points. However, his campaign ended with a pair of early exits, including a first-round loss at the Hellenic Championships and a round of 32 defeat at the Belgrade Open to Miomir Kecmanovic.
Opelka, meanwhile, has gone 16-15 on hard courts over the last twelve months. His serve remains his most potent weapon, winning a staggering 84.8% of service games on the surface. But it’s not all smooth sailing—his return games have been less effective, with only a 16% win rate. In his most recent tournament, Opelka was ousted by Vit Kopriva in the round of 32 at the Belgrade Open, dropping straight sets 4-6, 3-6.
With both players eager to make a statement in Brisbane, the betting markets and pundits are split. Opelka enters as a slight favorite, with odds hovering around -125 to -130, while Majchrzak is close behind at +100 to +107. Some predictive models give Majchrzak a 56.5% implied probability to win, while others, including advanced simulations, see the match as a virtual coin flip—each man given a 50% shot at advancing. For those looking for an edge, simulations suggest Majchrzak has a 51% chance to take the first set, though Opelka’s powerful serve could turn the tide at any moment.
Adding to the intrigue, both men are looking for their first hard-court title of 2026. Opelka’s career-high singles ranking is world No. 17, and he’s captured four ATP singles titles to date. Majchrzak, for his part, reached a career-best No. 61 last season and has steadily built his resume at the Challenger and ATP levels. Both have shown flashes of brilliance, but consistency—especially in the pressure moments—will be the key to unlocking a spot in the Brisbane quarterfinals.
Fans tuning in from around the world can catch the action live on Tennis Channel (USA), Sky Sports (UK), and TSN+ (Canada). The match is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, 2026, with an approximate start time of 3:55 AM ET (12:55 AM PT). The Queensland Tennis Centre’s hard courts are expected to play fast, favoring Opelka’s serve but also providing opportunities for Majchrzak’s aggressive baseline game.
Looking at recent form, both players have something to prove. Opelka’s 2025 season was defined by ups and downs—he made a splash in Brisbane, battled through injuries, and managed to climb back into the top 50. Majchrzak, on the other hand, is seeking to break through at the ATP 250 level after a string of solid Challenger results. Their previous encounter, a double-tiebreak affair, suggests this could be another tight contest, with both men likely to hold serve more often than not.
Expert predictions are just as divided as the odds. Some analysts lean toward Opelka, citing his experience, serve, and previous head-to-head success. Others see Majchrzak’s steady improvement and recent form as reasons to believe he could pull off the upset. One thing’s for sure: with both men hungry for success and the margins razor-thin, fans should buckle up for a tense, high-quality battle.
As the ATP 250 Brisbane International continues to heat up, this round of 16 clash between Reilly Opelka and Kamil Majchrzak stands out as one of the day’s must-watch encounters. With a quarterfinal berth on the line and both players bringing unique strengths to the court, tennis fans are in for a treat—no matter which way the result swings.
