This looks set to be a fascinating all-American first-round clash. Lovable giant Reily Opelka has enjoyed a really encouraging start to his 2025 campaign.
2025 ATP Tour
ATP 250
Delray Beach Open
Delray Beach Tennis Centre, Delray Beach, Florida (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Selected Round of 32 Matches- 12th February
Reily Opelka (52/100) s Christopher Eubanks (29/20)
This looks set to be a fascinating all-American first-round clash. Lovable giant Reily Opelka has enjoyed a really encouraging start to his 2025 campaign. The former World No.17 has struggled with injuries in recent years, and I seriously doubted that we would ever see him again. But he came out of the gates firing in Brisbane, winning four consecutive matches before retiring in the final due a back issue. The performance was a timely reminder of Opelka’s devastating serve-based game. He was eliminated in the first round of the Aussie Open following a five-set epic with Tomas Machac. He bounced back impressively, going out to defending champ Tommy Paul in the Dallas Open quarterfinals (which had just been elevated to ATP 500 status). So, Opelka seems to have rediscovered a bit of his mojo in this opening portion of the season. He will look to build on that momentum in Delray Beach (an event which he knows all too well). Opelka won here in 2020 and would also finish runner-up in 2022. A resident of the Sunshine State, Opelka is something of a cult figure in this event.
Christopher Eubanks is in the midst of a real career downturn. The big-hitting American burst onto the scene during the 2024 campaign, climbing into the top 30 courtesy of a Wimbledon quarterfinal run and victory in Mallorca. He seemed relatively comfortable in the limelight, suggesting that the late bloomer could be around for some time to come. But he struggled to replicate that form last season, ending with a dismal 11-19 record for the year. Currently ranked outside the top 100, Eubanks is in desperate need of a strong showing to help instill some confidence. He failed to get through Aussie Open qualifying and picked up his first tour-level win of the year in Montpelier (he would eventually go out to top seed Rublev in the round of 16). He then fell early in Dallas, surviving qualifying only to be outdone by Arnaldi in the first round. Eubanks’ flat-hitting style has just become a touch too one-dimensional. Players have also realized that he is prone to making hasty decisions in elongated rallies.
The Verdict: Opelka to win in straight sets at 14/10- Opelka leads the head-to-head 2-0 (though their last meeting came all the way back at the 2019 Washington Open). This is self-explanatory. Eubanks looks all out at sea while Opelka is slowly starting to rediscover his best form. Opelka has won eight of eleven tiebreaks this season (showing that he is warming up to high-pressure situations).
Kei Nishikori (56/100) vs Mackenzie McDonald (27/20)
Kei Nishikori is truly an inspiration for any player who has battled with long-term injury issues. The former Grand Slam finalist has suffered a litany of injuries throughout his decorated career (you name it, he has suffered through it). Yet he has somehow come out with a positive attitude at the other end of it, remaining fiercely competitive at the age of 35. Just to give you an idea of his longevity; Nishikori won this title way back in 2008! Nishikori produced some eye-catching tennis towards the back end of last year, reaching his first Masters quarterfinal in five years at the National Bank Open. He won an 8th Challenger title to close out the season and brought that momentum into this current campaign, reaching a first ATP Tour-level final in six years at the Hong Kong Open. He was soundly beaten by Tommy Paul in Melbourne before running into an inspired Tomas Machac at last week’s Dallas Open. Nishikori has received a favourable draw and will be hopeful of stopping his mini slump.
Mackenzie McDonald finds himself in a deep tour-level rut. The 29-year-old American has lost four consecutive tour-level matches dating back to last year’s Atlanta Open. But that doesn’t tell the whole story, as he has failed to get beyond qualifying in several other tour-level events. McDonald has reached one ATP final in his career, going down to Jannik Sinner in the Washington final back in 2021. He played much of his tennis on the Challenger Tour last season, winning two titles and reaching another final. He reached a Challenger semifinal a few weeks back and will hope to use some of that winning momentum going forward into his tour-level endeavours. McDonald is very much a stereotypical North American hardcourt specialist, using flat groundstrokes to create opportunities to finish off points at the net.
The Verdict: Nishikori to win in three at 28/10- These two share the head-to-head spoils at one win apiece. Nishikori won their most recent meeting, overcoming the American in an epic five-set match at the 2021 US Open. I think this could be quite a close match (despite McDonald’s relatively poor form). Nishikori isn’t the type of bombastic hitter who will just blow McDonald away. He is an energetic counterpuncher and this could give McDonald the opportunity to create some inroads.
