Former world No. 17 Reilly Opelka shared his thoughts on the changes in tennis since his prolonged absence from the tour. The American player has only competed in one match between August 2022 and July 2024.
“Tennis and balls have changed significantly. There aren’t many strong servers anymore; players have to rally much more. I want to increase my first serve percentage and overcome this, aiming for over 75%.”
“I need to serve better. After wrist surgery, I had several other issues with my arm, but I’m trying to find consistency. I couldn’t win two matches in a row; it was very physically challenging. That’s why I played in a Challenger last week [in Phoenix]. I hope to serve as hard as possible without worrying about my arm or back. I think I’m getting closer to that goal.”
“I can improve in other areas, but they are not as crucial. The main thing is to be among the best servers. That’s how it was in my best years, 2021 and 2022. It was the same with Isner at his peak,” Opelka stated in an interview with Tennis Channel.
