By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 26, 2019
Reilly Opelka downsized 11th-seeded Fabio Fognini posting his first US Open main-draw win and continuing his habit of toppling Top 20 opponents in Grand Slams.
Photo credit: BB& T Atlanta Open Facebook
NEW YORK—Traditionally, Reilly Opelka doesn’t believe in celebrating his birthday at the US Open.
The 21-year-old American will try to keep the party pumping on Wednesday.
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Opelka overwhelmed 11th-seeded Fabio Fognini, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3, posting his first career US Open victory today—and ensuring he'll play round two on his birthday.
The New York Open champion thrilled an exuberant Court 17 crowd—including his mom, Lynne, who flew into New York City last night—cracking 26 aces and saving five of the seven break points he faced.
“(My game plan) was just to be as offensive as I can, play my game as much as I can,” Opelka said. “Even though he’s a great returner to stay calm and know he’s gonna have his high moments and low moments and just play every point and try to play a complete match as much as possible.”
Even when Opelka failed to serve out the match in the third set and saw Fognini, who owns a US Open win over Rafael Nadal, rally to force a fourth set, the 6’11” American did not show signs of frustration that marked the early stages of his career.
The victory vaults Opelka into the second round on Wednesday, which is his 22nd birthday. Opelka isn’t anticipating a Manhattan birthday bash—he’s preoccupied looking to do damage in the draw.
“In the junior days we’d fly out on my birthday—the three years I played juniors—and last year I lost in qualies,” Opelka said. “I don’t celebrate my birthday in New York, usually afterward.”
The 42nd-ranked Opelka has often been unfairly typecast as a “serve-bot” and though his seismic serve is clearly a foundational stroke—Opelka is fourth on the ATP Tour in service games held at 91 percent—there is more nuance and variety to his game now than when he initially turned pro.
ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert has touted Opelka as a future Top 5 player and potential Grand Slam finalist as he matures.
John McEnroe calls Opelka a future Top 10 player and the Hall of Famer believes the towering American will compete for future majors alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov.
“I think he's going to be a Top-10 player eventually,” McEnroe said of Opelka.
Six months ago, Opelka captured his first career title at the New York Open at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island.
Today, Opelka looked like a more polished player than the man who knocked off ninth-ranked John Isner and Canadian Brayden Schnur in successive third-set tie breaks to win the New York Open.
“I think I’ve improved in every category of the game—I’ve come a long way,” Opelka said. “Spent a lot of time working on my serve, forehand, my return of serve so they all played in nice today and why I think I walked off court a winner.”
Opelka posted his third Top 20 Grand Slam win this season after toppling John Isner at the Australian Open in January and three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka at Wimbledon last month.
While Opelka grew up watching Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake at the Open, he revealed his true tennis heroes were three players with disparate styles.
“I loved Ferrer, Delpo and Isner,” Opelka said, drawing chuckles when asked why he favored the 5’8” Ferrer.
“I’m only allowed to like tall guys? Sure, John, Ivo and Anderson are my three favorite players,” Opelka joked. “I think it’s the same thing that everyone likes (about Ferrer)—how feisty he was, No. 5 in the world it seemed like 80 percent of his career. (Jim) Courier said he was the gate-keeper: he cleared the whole draw out for Fed, Novak and Murray. Yeah, I love Ferrer.”