“I just wanted to get off the court,” – Reilly Opelka Opens up on his severe medical condition during the French Open 2022
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Reilly Opelka
American tennis star Reilly Opelka reveals it all in his new interview with the Red Magazine. Opelka who’s currently ranked 26 in the ATP hasn’t had a great season so far. He last played the 2022 Citi Open where he lost to Nick Kyrgios in straight sets in the round 16. His enormous serve did not come through considering Kyrgios is a huge server himself.
Opelka sat with the Red Bulletin and revealed why he considers the French Open as the best grand slam. He also looked back on the severe medical conditions he went through due to which he had an early exit at the French Open.
It’s my least favourite surface, but I love Paris: Reilly Opelka
Currently ranked 26 in the world, Opelka suffered from severe food poisoning during his first round match against Filip Krajinovic back in 2022 Roland Garros. He said, “I ate chicken just before the game. I played the first set well, then it hit me all at once. I started having chills and body aches. I was in pain, I just wanted to get off the court… I finished the match but I could barely take a shower. I went to bed at the hotel and felt a sharp pain in my stomach.”
He further added, “The ordeal got worse. I kept vomiting and had a crazy fever. I remember booking an Uber from my hotel, but no Uber wanted to pick me up because I had put the American Hospital in Paris as the destination. They saw I was going to the hospital and assumed it was COVID related. I couldn’t find a driver. I ended up hitting a nearby restaurant, so I took an Uber there and walked the rest of the way. It wasn’t long but it felt like an eternity. Honestly, I thought I was going to pass out. I had a headache and this crazy pain in my stomach.”
Opelka then appreciated the French Open, calling it ‘the best grand slam’ because of its apolitical status. Djokovic was banned from the Australian Open due to his vaccination status. Russian and Belarusian players weren’t allowed to play at Wimbledon. Opelka said, “It’s my least favorite surface, but I love Paris, and it’s the only Grand Slam that has done it right in recent years.”
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