Reilly Opelka defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili 7–6, 6–3, 6–4 in the second round of the US Open on hard court on 5 September 2021. As the pre-match favourite, Opelka delivered a composed performance to advance, taking a competitive opening set via tiebreak before asserting control in the subsequent frames. Basilashvili, the underdog, competed in the first set but could not sustain the intensity required to trouble the American further. The victory underscored Opelka's capability on hard courts and kept his Grand Slam campaign on track.