Reilly Opelka

Reilly Opelka Bio

Reilly Opelka (born August 28, 1997) is an American professional tennis player known for his towering frame and powerful serve. At 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m), he is tied with Croatian Ivo Karlović as the tallest player in ATP Tour history. He has won four ATP singles titles and one doubles title, and he reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 17 on February 28, 2022.

Opelka has produced serves that measure over 140 miles per hour (225 km/h), making him one of the most imposing servers on the tour. After beginning his career as a promising junior, he has built a resume that includes a Masters 1000 final, four ATP singles trophies, and a Wimbledon junior title.

Early Life and Background

Reilly Opelka was born on August 28, 1997, in St. Joseph, Michigan, United States. His family later moved to Palm Coast, Florida, when he was four years old, where he grew up surrounded by the warm climate and year-round tennis culture of the Sunshine State.

Opelka did not begin playing tennis regularly until he was admitted to the USTA Training Center in Boca Raton at the age of 12. The move into a structured training environment sparked rapid improvement and introduced him to competitive junior tennis.

His early development was guided in part by longtime tennis coach Tom Gullikson, whom his father knew from playing golf. Gullikson’s mentorship helped shape Opelka’s serving technique and tactical approach during his formative teenage years.

Path to Tennis

Opelka quickly rose through the junior ranks after arriving at the USTA Training Center. He recorded strong results on the ITF junior circuit, highlighted by winning the boys’ singles title at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships, where he defeated wildcard Mikael Ymer in the final. He also reached the boys’ doubles final that year, partnering with Akira Santillan.

By July 13, 2015, Opelka had climbed to a combined ITF junior ranking of world No. 4, cementing his status as one of the top young American prospects. That same year, he turned professional, choosing to skip college competition in favor of the ATP Tour and Challenger circuits.

His Wimbledon junior championship signaled the transition from promising junior to legitimate professional prospect. Within months, Opelka began competing in Challenger events and ATP main draws, setting the stage for a steady climb up the rankings.

Reilly Opelka Career

Early Career (2016-2017)

Opelka made his ATP debut at the 2016 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, falling in the first round to fifth seed Sam Querrey. Later that summer, he won three consecutive matches at the Atlanta Open to reach the semifinals at just his third career ATP event, a run that included a victory over Kevin Anderson in which he saved two match points.

That breakthrough Atlanta performance pushed him inside the top 300 of the ATP rankings. He capped 2016 with his first ATP Challenger title in Charlottesville, finishing the year just outside the top 200. In 2017, he qualified for the Australian Open and pushed 11th seed David Goffin to five sets in the first round.

ATP Breakthrough (2018-2019)

2018 marked Opelka’s real breakthrough. He won three ATP Challenger titles during the season, becoming the first American to accomplish that feat since Bradley Klahn in 2014. He captured crowns in Bordeaux, Knoxville, and the JSM Challenger, while also finishing as runner-up in Cary and Oracle Challenger events.

On the ATP World Tour, he reached the quarterfinals at the Delray Beach Open and recorded his first career top-10 win by defeating world No. 8 Jack Sock. His strong Challenger results helped him finish 2018 ranked No. 99 in the world, his first top-100 year-end ranking.

In 2019, Opelka lifted his first ATP singles trophy at the New York Open, saving six match points along the way against John Isner. He also reached the third round at Wimbledon, his best Grand Slam singles result at the time, and finished the year ranked No. 36 in the world.

Masters 1000 Rise (2020-2021)

In February 2020, Opelka won his second ATP title at the Delray Beach Open after saving a match point against Milos Raonic in the semifinals. Later that summer, he reached his first Masters-level quarterfinal at the Cincinnati Masters, earning his fifth career top-10 win over Matteo Berrettini.

The 2021 season elevated Opelka into the top 20. In Rome, he reached his first Masters semifinal, losing to Rafael Nadal. He then captured his first doubles title at the Atlanta Open, partnering with Jannik Sinner, which lifted his doubles ranking to No. 89 on August 2, 2021.

At the Canada Masters in Toronto, Opelka upset third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final, falling to Daniil Medvedev. He followed that with a fourth-round run at the US Open, his best Grand Slam singles result at the time, which pushed him to a career-high No. 17 ranking on February 28, 2022.

Houston Triumph and Hiatus (2022)

Opelka opened 2022 by winning the inaugural Dallas Open, his third ATP singles title, where he beat John Isner in a semifinal that featured a 46-point tiebreak, the longest in ATP Tour history. A week later, he reached the final at Delray Beach but lost to Cameron Norrie.

At the 2022 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, Opelka won his fourth ATP singles title, defeating Isner in the tallest ATP Tour final of the Open Era. Later that year, injuries forced him into an extended break from competition.

Return to the Tour (2023-2024)

After roughly 18 months away due to a wrist injury, Opelka returned in late 2023 on the ATP Challenger Tour. He made his full ATP comeback in mid-July 2024 at the Hall of Fame Open, where he reached the semifinals as the lowest-ranked player ever to do so at an ATP event.

That run, combined with a quarterfinal showing at Washington, moved him more than 750 ranking positions back inside the top 430. By late 2024, he was competing regularly again and rebuilding his form.

Comeback Peak (2025)

Opelka reached his first ATP final since 2022 at the 2025 Brisbane International, upsetting top seed Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals for his eighth career top-10 win. A semifinal victory over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard gave him his 100th career match win and returned him to the top 200 at No. 171. He retired in the final against Jiří Lehečka due to back issues.

At the 2025 Australian Open, Opelka opened with a win over Gauthier Onclin before falling to Tomáš Macháč in five sets. At the 2025 Libéma Open, he reached the semifinals as a lucky loser, upsetting top seed Daniil Medvedev in a dramatic deciding tiebreak.

Driving Style and Strengths

Opelka’s game is built around one of the most dominant serves in tennis history. His height and leverage allow him to generate serves measured above 140 mph, earning cheap points and controlling match tempo on fast surfaces. He plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand and relies on his serve-plus-one patterns to keep opponents on the defensive, with particular success on hard courts and grass.

Notable Events and Milestones

Opelka’s signature moments include his 2015 Wimbledon junior title, his 100th career win in Brisbane, and the record-setting 46-point tiebreak in Dallas in 2022. His 2021 run to the Canada Masters final, which included a win over Tsitsipas, remains his most prestigious singles achievement. He has represented the United States in Davis Cup competition, reaching the quarterfinals in 2024.

Reilly Opelka Career Wins

Reilly Opelka has won four ATP singles titles and one ATP doubles title across his career. His singles trophies came at the 2019 New York Open, the 2020 Delray Beach Open, the 2022 Dallas Open, and the 2022 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, while his lone doubles title came at the 2021 Atlanta Open with Jannik Sinner.

ATP Tour Highlights

Opelka’s first ATP title came at the 2019 New York Open, where he saved six match points en route to the trophy. His most recent title came at the 2022 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, where he defeated John Isner in the tallest ATP Tour final of the Open Era. He has also reached three additional singles finals, including a runner-up finish at the 2021 Canada Masters.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond his ATP titles, Opelka has won four Challenger singles titles and one Challenger doubles final as runner-up. He captured three Challenger crowns in 2018 at Bordeaux, Knoxville, and the JSM Challenger, plus a 2016 title in Charlottesville. His combined ATP and Challenger success has pushed career prize money to more than US $5.7 million.

Reilly Opelka Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Opelka’s family supported his early tennis development, with his father playing a key role in connecting him with coach Tom Gullikson through their shared golf connection. His uncle is radio talk show host Mike Opelka. The family’s move from Michigan to Florida helped facilitate his training at the USTA center.

Personal Life

Opelka resides in Delray Beach, Florida. He is a close friend of fellow American Taylor Fritz and served as the best man at Fritz’s wedding. He also maintains a long friendship with tennis legend Venus Williams. A dedicated sports fan, Opelka supports Chicago’s Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, and White Sox, as well as Italian soccer club SS Lazio.

2025 Season Performance

Opelka’s 2025 campaign has been defined by a strong comeback narrative. He opened the year by reaching the Brisbane International final as a qualifier-tier comeback story, scoring an upset of top seed Novak Djokovic and recording his 100th career win. Although a back issue forced him to retire in the Brisbane final, the performance signaled a return to form.

He carried that momentum into the Australian Open with a first-round win before a five-set loss in round two. At the Libéma Open, he added another top-10 win over Daniil Medvedev as a lucky loser, advancing to the semifinals. These results have moved him back inside the top 200 and reestablished him as a threat on faster surfaces.

Looking ahead, Opelka is working with coaches Craig Boynton, Jay Berger, and Denis Kudla, a group brought in to refine his game and manage his fitness. With four titles already in his collection and his serve still among the tour’s most punishing, his 2025 outlook centers on staying healthy and chasing his first ATP title since 2022.