Citi Open 2022: Nick Kyrgios vs. Reilly Opelka Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Citi Open as Nick Kyrgios takes on Reilly Opelka in the Round of 16 on Thursday, August 4th, 2022.

Will Nick Kyrgios get the win? Will Reilly Opelka pull off the upset? This will be a fascinating one, where the red hot Australian faces the tallest player on the ATP Tour. Who will triumph and move on to the quarterfinals at the 2022 Citi Open?

Nick Kyrgios played some god-like tennis against Tommy Paul, exceeding the high expectations to grab the win 6-3 6-4. Paul is in great form, but Kyrgios served unbelievably well, hitting that backhand hard and really weaponizing it, and of course blasting some forehands as well. While Reilly Opelka is dangerous, especially for Kyrgios, not a guy who I’m super high on in terms of his return, but if Kyrgios gets upset, especially in a tight situation which is bound to happen against the American, things can get real hairy as the two face off for a place in the quarterfinals at the 2022 Citi Open.

Reilly Opelka took down Denis Kudla in 3 sets, if he wants to take down Nick Kyrgios, he’s really going to have to step it up. While he may have a good record against the Aussie, Kyrgios is playing arguably the tennis of his life at the moment and will be serving just as well. Opelka’s best shot will definitely be in a tiebreaker, trying his hardest to make the margins as narrow as possible and hoping for some drama from the other end of the court as the two clash for a place in the final eight at the 2022 Citi Open.

Nick Kyrgios and Reilly Opelka have met twice before, with Reilly Opelka leading the head to head 2-0. While this head to head might scream good news for the American, it is rather misleading. Their first meeting came in Canada last year, with Kyrgios crashing out in 3 sets while playing some of the worst tennis of his career. Their second meeting came this year, but on the clay. Kyrgios will be liking the conditions here and is feeling the ball extraordinarily well as he looks to fight off Opelka to claim another spot in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Citi Open.