Reilly Opelka

[Damian]

Opelka Up To Career-High No. 23, Mover Of Week

Spoiler:

ATPTour.com looks at the top Movers of the Week in the FedEx ATP Rankings, as of Monday, 16 August 2021

No. 23 Reilly Opelka, +9 (Career-High)
The American has risen nine spots to a career-high No. 23 in the FedEx ATP Rankings after he reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Toronto (l. to Medvedev). The 23-year-old captured his first Top 5 win en route to the championship match, upsetting World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals. Read Toronto Final Report & Watch Highlights

View Latest FedEx ATP Rankings

No. 26 John Isner, +4
The 36-year-old has moved 4 places after he reached the semi-finals in Toronto. The big-serving American lifted the trophy in Atlanta at the start of August, and backed this up in Canada to reach the last four at a Masters 1000 event for the first time since advancing to the championship match in Miami in 2019.

No. 69 James Duckworth, +16 (Career-High)
The Australian has climbed 16 spots to a career-high No. 69 after he came through qualifying to advance to the third round in Toronto. The 29-year-old, who defeated #NextGenATP Italian Jannik Sinner in the second round, also reached the third round in Miami this year.

You May Also Like: Scouting Report: Medvedev, Tsitispas, Zverev Lead Cincinnati Field
Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 11 Casper Ruud, +1
No. 12 Hubert Hurkacz, +1
No. 41 Dusan Lajovic, +3
No. 46 Lloyd Harris, +3
No. 83 Marco Ceechinato, +3

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/opelka- ... ugust-2021

[Damian]

[robpal]

[DUN I LOVE]

10. wygrany mecz w M-1000 w tym roku.

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Kyrgios, Opelka & Isner Join Laver Cup's Team World

Spoiler:

Auger-Aliassime, Schwartzman and Shapovalov also on Team World

Captain John McEnroe announced Thursday that Nick Kyrgios, Reilly Opelka and John Isner will join Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime and Diego Schwartzman on Team World at the Laver Club, to be played from 24-26 September.

“Reilly had a great run last week in Toronto to reach the finals and I’ve been really impressed with his recent form,” McEnroe said. “He’s a young guy and new to the Laver Cup, but with John and Nick having been part of the Laver Cup since the start, we have a ton of experience on our side and that’s going to be critical.

“We’ve had some tough losses over the past couple of years and have come painfully close, especially last year when we were just a tie-break away from victory. I believe that with the energy of the home crowd behind us and maybe a little bit of luck we can get the win this time!”

Top-ranked American Opelka rose nine spots last week to reach a career-high FedEx ATP Ranking of No. 23 following his impressive win over World No. 3 and Team Europe player Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto.

“I’m very excited to be representing Team World at the Laver Cup in Boston,” Opelka said. “Playing in the U.S. in an arena like TD Garden, with John McEnroe as our captain, is going to be a surreal experience. I can’t wait.”

Isner is also enjoying some great recent form, having captured his 16th ATP Tour title in Atlanta at the start of the month and reaching the semi-finals last week in Toronto. The big-serving American has been part of the Laver Cup since the inaugural event in Prague in 2017.

“None of us really knew what to expect that first year in Prague, but it was one of the most incredible weeks and is now a highlight of my year,” Isner said. “To be on a team with guys we’re normally competing against is so different and so much fun. We come together so well as a group, the chemistry is awesome and it’s such a great environment to be part of.”

Kyrgios, one of the game’s biggest personalities and an avid Boston Celtics fan, agrees.

“Laver Cup is my favorite week of the year and I just love being part of the team. It’s going to be unreal playing at TD Garden, home of the Celtics,” Kyrgios said. “Boston fans love their sports, so if we can win the Laver Cup anywhere, then TD Garden and Boston, one of the greatest sports cities in the world, is the place to do it.”

The fourth edition of the Laver Cup will take place at TD Garden, Boston, from 24-26 September 2021. Team Europe hoisted the trophy at the inaugural event in Prague in 2017, Chicago in 2018 and Geneva in 2019.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/team-wo ... nouncement

[Damian]

[robpal]

[DUN I LOVE]

Sto lar Rejlej. Nigdy się nie zmieniaj, serwbocie.

[Damian]

Opelka 'Optimistic' For More Success At US Open

Spoiler:

The big-serving American reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto this month
Reilly Opelka has been working hard on being mentally tougher in the past few months as he prepares for his third appearance at the US Open.

The 24-year-old American attributes the development of his mentality as the main reason for his success this season. Opelka reached the semi-finals in Rome in May and enjoyed a run to the final in Toronto, where only World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev could stop him.

"I turned things around [in Toronto]... I beat [Stefanos] Tsitsipas, played a great final against Medvedev [in a] Masters 1000 final, my best result yet,” Opelka said in his pre-tournament press conference. “I think just having an optimistic mindset is so critical.

“The sport is already as tough as it is. If you're not optimistic, it's hard to get through those moments. Not saying I'm going to get through them every time now, but it just shows what getting through one moment like that can do."

You May Also Like: Favourite Or Villain, Medvedev Just Happy To Have Fans Back At US Open
Despite the deep runs in Rome and Toronto, Opelka is not getting complacent with his recent success. The American's most successful performance in a major is reaching the third round at Wimbledon in 2019 and Roland Garros this year. Opelka, who begins against World No. 74 Soonwoo Kwon, feels he has plenty to work on before making a deeper run at a major.

"I've grown a lot in the last year. It doesn't mean that I'm not expecting to showcase it all in one week. The season's long. The way the sport works, we're 40 weeks pretty much," Opelka said. "I would love to carry my momentum through this week. But everyone's tough here.

“There's no such thing as a good draw anymore. I think it's been that way probably for the past 10, 15 years. Maybe in the past, you would see some first rounds that weren't so close. Now anyone can beat anyone."

On his mental development, Opelka said he had developed this in the past year, while there we no crowds. Nevertheless, the second highest-ranked American, after John Isner, will be looking forward to having fans supporting him once again next week in New York.

"It definitely changes things,” Opelka added. “I prefer it [playing with fans], but I've gotten used to playing without them. I think I got to really work on my mindset in that time.

"Having fans back is a total delight. It's a treat. We've learned that. Especially New Yorkers. What better fans to have for our first 100 per cent capacity than the local New York crowd? That's what makes the US Open the US Open.

"That's what makes sport in New York so iconic. That's why the Yankees are a legendary team, the Knicks as well. It's the fan, the fan base, the culture of New York, New Yorkers."

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/opelka- ... 1-saturday

[Damian]

Fashion Court: Opelka Explains Why A Clear Identity Is Key In Fashion & Tennis

Spoiler:

The American dishes on his views of the fashion world
Reilly Opelka works hard on his craft, and that helped him to a career-high No. 23 in the FedEx ATP Rankings earlier this month. But off court, you are far more likely to find the 24-year-old discussing fashion than tennis.

Ahead of the US Open — and New York Fashion Week (8-12 September) — ATPTour.com spoke to the American about his fashion inspirations, the time he spent with a designer earlier this year and why having a clear identity is important in both fashion and tennis.

You May Also Like: Fashion Court: Dimitrov 'Goes With The Flow'
Who is your biggest fashion influence?
The people I look up to are or were in the sport. I look up to Venus Williams a lot. She’s been a great mentor-figure for me. I’ve learned a lot from her. John Isner, he’s been similar. Just good people, really good people.

If you’re going out for a night with friends, what’s your go-to outfit?
Most of the time, I wear a lot of all-black. It depends on the occasion. I wear a lot of Rick Owens and it’s just all solids, there aren’t many prints. There’s a girl Paria Farzaneh, who I’m a really big fan of right now. I love her brand, it’s perfect for Florida because it’s all nylon and it’s technical fabric. When it starts pouring, a lot of her stuff is waterproof and almost built for Florida, but she’s from London. It makes sense, it rains a lot there. I’m really high on her right now.

She’s someone you can say I look up to outside of tennis. She won the LVMH Award, which is the equivalent of winning the Next Gen ATP Finals. It means you’re legit, and she’s done it on her own, which is so rare. Everything she makes comes from her and two or three others on her team. She’s really cool and a total badass. I like her philosophy.

We hung out in London before Wimbledon and I’m super high on her. I like her brand, I like seeing how she lives her brand. It’s people like that who I look up to outside of tennis. I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration from her and was stoked to hang out with her and see how she goes about her business and her thoughts on the fashion industry.

We’re kind of on the same page with things, but she’s very futuristic thinking with wanting everything to be timeless. She wants all her pieces to be passed down and everything has a purpose, it’s not just to look good.


How did you come across her?
I follow Fashion Week and she had a great show in Paris a couple years ago and then I followed her brand and we just got in touch. We got to link up this year for the first time in London.

She took me around where she is from, Brockley. In between tournaments I was able to leave the bubble, which was super refreshing. She took me around her little town in Brockley, South London. [Paria] and her boyfriend — who is a photographer and a really nice guy — came to all my matches at Queen’s Club, they came to Wimbledon. They brought some friends and made it fun. They showed me their hometown and made me feel comfortable.

I honestly can’t wait to go back and hang out and explore some more with them. It really left a mark on me, I don’t even know if she realises it. We just hung out for a day, but I was really impressed with her and just how she went about things.

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/reil ... ew'>Reilly Opelka</a>
Opelka wore a pink tie-dye shirt earlier this year. Photo Credit: Casey Sykes/Getty Images.
How nice is it to get to know people in these different industries?
I was a fan of her brand. I didn’t know what to expect out of her. But I didn’t know she was going to be that cool. She is a badass, that’s how I’d say it. She has a clear identity of what her brand is. She’s so certain on what she likes and that resonated well with me.

It’s similar to tennis in some ways. It’s just having a clear identity for how you want to be as a tennis player, how you want to go about your matches and practices. You can find some correlation and I think that’s pretty special.

Read More On Opelka
Opelka's Fashion & A New York State Of Mind
Why Opelka 'Has The Potential To Move The Needle'

What’s the biggest fashion mistake you’ve made?
Now things I buy are much more timeless and they’re less trendy. So many things go into trend and they go out quickly. It just defeats the purpose.

Sustainable fashion is something everyone tries to promote now... Everyone has to claim it now to be in fashion, they have to claim to be sustainable. They’re making cheesy prints that just aren’t timeless. They’re going to be outdated in two months. Whatever piece of clothing you bought just goes to waste, goes to shreds because you only wear it once. When I’m buying, I’m always looking to see if I can make sure I can wear it in 10, 15 years.

I’m an all-black guy. I wear all-black.

What’s something you’d never wear?
I don’t like leather too much on jackets. I’m not a big leather jacket guy. That’s definitely a no-go for me. Also those Balenciaga shoes that a lot of people wear, that are real big. Also Off-White. I’ll never wear Off-White, it’s a little cringy to me. Philipp Plein, very cringy, will never wear. Those are my top two no-goes.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/opelka- ... hion-court

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Barty]

US Open 2021 R2:

19 Alex de Minaur 2218
20 Reilly Opelka 2206
21 Gaël Monfils 2188

[Damian]

[Damian]

Spinorama Save Helps Opelka Surge Past Musetti At US Open

Spoiler:

The American crushes aces in his win

In the first point of Reilly Opelka’s US Open match against #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday afternoon, the American sprinted forward to retrieve a drop shot. Opelka then lunged for a backhand volley to save the point and spun around before guessing right on the next ball and smacking away a forehand volley winner. The 22nd seed gave the raucous Court 17 crowd a huge fist pump as his coach, former World No. 7 Jay Berger, leapt out of his seat.

It was a tight match, but like that crucial point, all the big moments went in Opelka’s favour in his 7-6(1), 7-5, 6-4 victory to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows for the first time. Opelka will next play Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili or American qualifier Maxime Cressy as he tries to make his maiden fourth round at a major.

Opelka certainly has momentum on his side. The 24-year-old recently made his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto, where he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals. Earlier this year, he made his first semi-final at that level in Rome.

You May Also Like: Fashion Court: Opelka Explains Why A Clear Identity Is Key In Fashion & Tennis
The two-time ATP Tour titlist defeated Musetti 6-4, 6-4 during his run at the Foro Italico, but he was clear that he expected a tougher match this time around. That is what Opelka got, but he rose to the occasion with 30 aces and 60 total winners to triumph after two hours and 21 minutes.

Opelka did not lose serve in the match, saving all four break points he faced. At 5-5 in the second set, he earned his first break by pouncing on a return and rushing the net, where he put away a forehand volley.

Again in the third set, all it took was one break and Opelka rode his serve to the finish line in front of his home crowd. The 6'11" right-hander is the highest-ranked American left in the draw.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/opelka- ... 1-thursday

[Nando]

[Nando]

USO21 R3:

18 Roberto Bautista Agut 2405
19 Reilly Opelka 2251
20 Alex de Minaur 2218

[Damian]