Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Reilly Opelka Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Opelka playing first clay match since 2022

It's been a disappointing last couple of years on tour for Tsitsipas, with the Greek recently tumbling down to No. 16 in the rankings after failing to defend his Monte Carlo Masters title last week. This is a small stretch of the season that Tsitsipas has remained a leading contender - he's made the Barcelona final in four of the last six editions of the tournament and he will be hoping for similar success over the next week.

Tsitsipas has received a relatively kind draw here. Opelka would be a nightmare opening round on hardcourt or grass, but the American continues to struggle with niggling injuries post-surgery and he hasn't played a match on clay since 2022. Tsitsipas should be able to break more comfortably on the dirt and he really shouldn't be getting outmuscled in baseline exchanges on this surface. Anything other than a routine straight sets victory would be worrying for the Greek.

Opelka leads 1-0, winning their only previous meeting in three sets at the 2021 Toronto Masters, before his serious injury issues surfaced.

As mentioned, it hasn't been a particularly fruitful last couple of years for Tsitsipas and 2025 hasn't really been any better, with the Greek entering Barcelona with a 13-7 record.

It's not a bad record, which is due to Tsitsipas putting it all together in a brilliant week to capture the ATP 500 Dubai title in February.

However, Tsitsipas comes into this contest having lost three of his last six matches, going down to Holger Rune in Indian Wells, Sebastian Korda in Miami and Lorenzo Musetti in Monte Carlo last week.

Tsitsipas had won three of the last four Monte Carlo tournaments and took the opening set 6-1 over Musetti, but his first serve deserted him for the remainder of the match as he went down in three.

Tsitsipas has a 20-6 record in Barcelona and is 6-0 in first round matches, reaching the final four times - including the last two seasons, where he's gone down to Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz.

Opelka's career was almost over after the giant American spent years trying to surgically repair his troublesome hip and wrist, but he's made a solid comeback in 2025.

The former World No. 17 has compiled a 10-6 record on the season, which was highlighted by a run to the Brisbane final at the start of the year, where he beat Novak Djokovic before being forced to retire against Jiri Lehecka.

Opelka has struggled to put together consistent performances since then, but he did play well to reach the third round of Miami in his last tournament, beating Holger Rune before going down to Tomas Machac.

The 27-year-old hasn't played on clay since 2022, losing five of his last seven matches on the surface, while his only previous appearance in Barcelona resulted in a straight sets defeat in 2019.