Reilly Opelka slams tennis double standards after being slapped with $80,000 fine from Indian Wells
Reilly Opelka reached the third round of the Miami Open after clinching a three-set win over 11th seed Holger Rune.
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Reilly Opelka (Image via ESPN)
Reilly Opelka took an indirect but brutal dig at Indian Wells for the hefty fine they imposed on him for complaining about lights. Opelka came from a set down to win a grueling battle over Indian Wells finalist Holger Rune, beating him with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) scoreline.
During the match, Rune complained about the lights turning on suddenly when a point was being played. Opelka, after his win, was asked about Rune’s complaints, to which the American said he didn’t have any problem with it before revealing that for a similar reason, he was slapped with an $80,000 fine at Indian Wells.
I don’t know. It was valid. If the lights bug him, they bug him. I don’t think he’s making anything up. He played within the rules to do the video review. There was no foul play on his side. If that were me I probably would’ve been fined another 80 G’s like I did last week at Indian Wells. They couldn’t figure out how to turn on the lights. I asked for them. And then boom, I got slapped with a nice fine. So I’m playing for free this week.
Reilly Opelka said during his on-court interview
Opelka played just one match in the California desert as Roman Safiullin eliminated him in the first round in straight sets. The 27-year-old was part of the 12 current and former players suing the ATP, WTA, ITF, and the International Anti-Doping Agency (ITIA) along with the Novak Djokovic-backed Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) over schedule, ranking system, constant ball changes, and other complaints.
Reilly Opelka to lock horns with Tomas Machac in the third round
Reilly Opelka arrived in Miami after his exit in the fourth round of the Phoenix Challenger. He knocked out compatriot Christopher Eubanks to kick start his campaign, before beating Holger Rune to reach the third round.
Opelka is set to lock horns with Tomas Machac next. The Czech ace, before setting up the clash with Opelka, knocked out Matteo Arnaldi in the second round.
The 20th seed won the first title of his career this season with a straight-set win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Mexican Open final. At Indian Wells, however, he gave a walkover to Yosuke Watanuki in the first round.
Opelka has met the World No.21 once in his career and lost that match. They faced each other in his year’s Australian Open second round which Machac had won in five sets.
Reilly Opelka reveals what changes he witnessed after tennis comeback
Reilly Opelka, before making his return to the tour at this year’s Brisbane International after nearly two years, noticed one change which he thinks is the reason why there aren’t big servers on the tour like him anymore. Opelka was on the sidelines due to multiple injuries and surgery on his hip.
Tennis has changed a lot in the time I’ve been away, the balls have changed a lot. That’s why you don’t see many big servers anymore; they have to play much more. I would love to increase my first serve percentage to get through all this, go above 75%, for totally up for me to hit two first serves, not a first and a second.
Reilly Opelka said at the press conference
Opelka is a 114th-ranked player who has won four titles in his career so far, reaching a career-best ranking in 2022 when he climbed to the No.17 position. He has not yet won a title this season. He came close to the Brisbane Open trophy but his back injury forced him to throw in the towel during the final against Jiri Lehecka.
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