Nicolai Budkov Kjaer vs Reilly Opelka Preview & Prediction | 2026 Australian Open | First Round

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

The up-and-coming Nicolai Budkov Kjaer makes his Grand Slam debut against former world number 17 Reilly Opelka.

Start date/time:

Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia

Surface: Outdoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & Tennis Channel

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Nicolai Budkov Kjaer vs Reilly Opelka ticket information

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer vs Reilly Opelka prediction

Promising young Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjaer is set to make his Grand Slam debut after progressing through qualifying, most recently defeating experienced Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Thursday.

Ranked 135th in the world, big things are expected of the 19-year-old, who won four Challenger titles in 2025.

It's fair to say that former American number one Reilly Opelka has not been the same player since he suffered a debilitating wrist injury back in 2022, but even during his prime he struggled to go deep in the majors.

Now ranked 62nd, the big server is naturally a favourite with the bookies here. However, Kjaer is on the rise at the moment and he is worth considering to pull off the upset.

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer vs Reilly Opelka tip: Nicolai Budkov Kjaer to win