“I think in my mind it’s very clear what I need to practice on the next day and what I have to do better in Miami. It’s really to play way more aggressive,” Holger Rune said after falling off his Indian Wells Masters title quest to champion Jack Draper in the summit clash. The Dane, after long, has finally found his footing on the tour and is exploiting the best segments of his vivid potential. His next target directs him to claim the Miami Open crown but, his competition won’t let him surf without resistance.

Rune is slated to lock horns with home favorite Reilly Opelka and he won’t likely have the crowd on his side. Begging the question – can he overcome the nerving challenge and prevail nonetheless? Let’s find out.

Rune vs Opelka: Preview

Opelka jetted for the Miami Masters on the back of a Round of 16 exit at Challenger Phoenix. The unseeded American player squared off against countryman Chris Eubanks in the opening round of the Masters 1000 tournament and sent him packing in straight sets to book a date against Rune.

Rune, on the other hand, arrived in Miami as the eleventh seed and, as a result, received a bye in the opening round. The 21-year-old capped his previous tour-level hunt with a runner-up finish in Indian Wells, where he was unable to overpower Draper in the summit clash despite showcasing commanding form throughout the tournament.

Rune vs Opelka: Head-to-Head

Both these players have never crossed paths on the competitive circuit and, as a result, their head-to-head tally stands nil at 0-0. Their upcoming battle in Miami will count as their first-ever meeting on the ATP.

Prediction: Rune to win in straight sets

Holger Rune holds an 11-7 win-loss record for the 2025 calendar year. He commenced the season with a tough Round of 32 exit in Brisbane but, low-key rectified those results with a decent fourth-round finish against eventual champion Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. However, the Dane couldn’t press on his rivals’ weaknesses further as he suffered back-to-back early exits in Rotterdam, Argentina, and Acapulco. His biggest result for the year came in Indian Wells, a feat that earned him his fifth tour-level title.

The former World No. 4 has a toolbox full of return tricks on which he relies. Though he is accustomed to an aggressive baseline game, Rune flaunts the ability to change the pace with an occasional slice, throwing his opponents off-balance. Regardless, his 6’11” American rival boasts a mastery of his own.

Reilly Opelka, known for his powerful serves – averaging 227 km/h on some days – utilizes a versatile gameplay that is characterized by impressive on-court coverage. He kicked off the 2025 calendar in Brisbane, where despite his best efforts to emerge victorious, he finished runner-up against Jiri Lehecka after being forced to retire early in the first set due to a back injury. Consequentially, he was a no-show in Auckland.

The American then suffered a second-round exit to Tomas Machac in the Australian Open. However, he quickly found his momentum in Dallas by securing a quarterfinal finish. In the last three events, however, that he played in Delray Beach, Indian Wells, and Challenger Phoenix, Opelka couldn’t move past the Round of 16. The 27-year-old has yet to prove himself on the Masters 1000 level.

Seeing as his younger rival boasts has recorded better results recently, the second round of the Miami Open should see Holger Rune advance without facing much resistance. The prediction is for the Dane to win in straight sets.