Reilly Opelka rising his game upsets Isner at opener in Melbourne

The pro tennis life started to kick into Opelka in a good way as he qualified for the 2017 Australian Open and played opposite former no. 11 David Goffin. He would bring him to five sets but unfortunately wasnt consistent to come up with the victory.

A short time later, he played at the 2017 Memphis Open and defeated Jared Donaldson. Opelka could feel things were changing in his game and couldnt wait for another tournament to test his skills. It was at the Delray Beach Open last February that Opelka a 21-year-old tennis player wanting to be known more for his talents than his nearly 7 foot frame, defeated his first top 10 player – Jack Sock.

He says that Its definitely a great win for me. Jacks a guy Ive always looked up to…another American. I have a lot of respect for…good for my confidence. He really didnt know if another upset in his career would come around again and just tried to enjoy this one.

The passion for tennis grew in Opelka when he was nearly 13 years old and started training at the USTA in Boca Raton and of which Tom Gullikson took him under his wing, a buddy of his Dads who played golf frequently together.

Later Opelka met up with Taylor Fritz communicated about tennis and later was to be Fritzs best man at his wedding. It was also by coincidence years before that Opelka would play the 2015 Junior Wimbledon opposite Fritz to result in a victory.

But last year 2018 was a season full of ups and downs for Reilly Opelka. He was getting better from a foot injury and then hed contracted mono, which had him with near bed rest for over a month. He would recover and participate at a Challenger in Bordeaux and win the title.

It was months later hed win two more, one in Knoxville over Bjorn Fratangelo and the other in Champaign defeating Ryan Shane. The most surprising vcame at the first round of the 2109 Australian Open opposite John Isner.

Theyd measure about the same in height, but Isner being a dozen years older and having a rather thick tennis resume of 14 singles and 5 doubles titles. Opelka was still trying for his first be it in singles or doubles, but he pulled off an upset no one would ever expected.

He had packed his bags heading for Melbourne and knowing hed play opposite Isner who not only is as tall as himself, but hits with the same intensity, too. Opelka had said Theres just a lot of things that are out of your control, meaning to play opposite someone of the same strengths and statue knowing youll be in for a good wallop.

The match was remarkable where the aces given out by these two were almost the same 47 for Isner and 40 for Opelka. Isner had gotten the first two game on Opelka, but not for long. The young powerhouse soon tied the score a few rallies and the match had went into a tiebreak with he holding focus to win the opener 7-6.

The veteran Isner was passing down the lines and everything necessary in the second set to win the match, even a quick drop shot hed did, but Opelka was on his game radar, ran up and slammed the ball back getting the second tiebreak win.

This really wasnt fun for Isner anymore since he wasnt used to this feisty rallying and the victor being the guy on the other side of the net. The deciding set was looking grey to Isner now and not used to being on the loser end of the court.

Isner began to get unnerved. Opelka was hitting the big aces untouchable by most players to return as well as Isner. The games went to 6-all, Opelka held steady and focused winning match point with a blistering ace served up to Isner.

Opelka won in three tiebreak sets: 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 and this win made the second player in the top 10 that Opelka defeated. The way hes played opposite Isner, if he holds his consistency and skill, hell be in good fashion with soon to win the first crown of his career.