By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday June 2, 2021
Reilly Opelka has suddenly found his muse on the red clay - look out below!
Photo Source: Getty
Reilly Opelka called his trip to the Rome semi-finals a fluke a few weeks ago, but the bomb-serving American is proving in Paris this week that he is anything but.
Opelka mowed down Spain’s Jaume Munar on Day 4, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, to book a third-round appearance for the first time at Roland-Garros. The No.32-seeded American, had never won a match in Paris before (0-2), but he says that recent technical changes to his forehand have helped him develop confidence in his second most important shot.
“Just honestly some really simple, basic things,” said of his work on the forehand. “A lot of detail. Some things are kind of hard to put into words.”
Opelka says he is simplifying the swing and reducing extraneous movements in his body.
“You can look at some of my matches, particularly in Madrid, versus now, you'll see some things,” he said. “My body is a lot more quiet, my head is more quiet. Honestly, it's just some really basically things. Tennis 101, you know. We get away from them with different conditions, different courts.”
It’s quite a remarkable turnaround for Opelka on the clay. He was 2-10 on the surface when he entered the Rome draw and since then he has won six of eight contests.
He was asked if his recent run of torrid form has opened his eyes to what he can accomplish on the surface.
“I think John Isner has had a lot of success on it,” he said. “We are similar in a lot of ways.
Opelka seems to believe that with a more consistent forehand, he can really do damage. These days he’s truly excited to hit the practice courts and work on his game.
“Like I said, my forehand is improving,” he said. “At the rate I think it's going, I think there's still so much more room to grow, which is exciting for me, it really is. I go into each practice very excited to test it, to try to improve it. I'm thinking on new things.
“My brain's kind of thinking in a different way now, especially when I'm constructing points from serving. I'm so much more calm because I have so much more confidence, so much more trust in my forehand. Like I said, I know there's still room for improvement, which is, like, exciting for me. I think about it all the time. I'm thinking about how I can get better.”
Opelka also is happy about the fact that he’s managing his body better as he gets older. The 23-year-old remembers his first trip to the third round of a Slam at Wimbledon in 2019. He says he was too beat up to play his best after upsetting Stan Wawrinka in the second round.
“I've only been in the third round once before in Wimbledon,” he said. “My body was in much worse condition than it is now. It's just a testament to how hard I've been working in the gym. It just shows that I'm getting better.”
The American will face either Daniil Medvedev or Tommy Paul in round three.
“I think it will be a battle whoever it is,” he said. “Tommy's got my number. He knows me better than anyone. He returned my serve more than anyone. Medvedev, one of the best returners in the world. They're going to be in for an unbelievable match tonight.”