“Total boys club,” Reilly Opelka slams ATP for being a ‘circus’

“Total boys club,” Reilly Opelka slams ATP for being a ‘circus’

Reilly Opelka and Dani Vallverdu

Tall, tenacious, and terrific, are the adjectives often used to describe American tennis star Reilly Opelka. The American stands at a whopping 6ft 11 inches, being one of the tallest players currently in the ATP circuit.

Opelka has had a bright start to the new season. The tall American reached the third round of the Australian Open 2022, where he lost to Denis Shapovalov. However, he then moved on to win the ATP Dallas Open defeating Jenson Brooksby in the final, winning his 4th ATP title. He then reached the final of the Delray Beach Open, where he lost to Cameron Norrie.

Reilly Opelka slams ATP as a “boys club”

Reilly Opelka
Reilly Opelka with his trophy won in Dallas

American tennis star Reilly Opelka is one of the most outspoken pros in terms of calling the double standards and conflicts of interests in tennis. In an interview with TENNIS.com, Opelka described the ATP as a “total boys club.”

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Opelka slammed the board members, specifically calling out Dani Vallverdu and stating that he has no experience of being a tournament director, but still Vallverdu gets to be the tournament director when a new ATP tournament in San Diego Open is formed.

“I would explain that the ATP is a boys’ club. Just look at the board members. It’s a total boys club. What is Danny Valverdu’s experience in terms of being a tournament director? None, zero. And when a new week pops up on the calendar at an ATP sanctioned event, a Player Council member, Danny Vallverdu, gets to be the tournament director [at the 2021 San Diego Open],” said Opelka.

He then labeled the ATP as a circus, accusing that Vallverdu has only got the position since the organization is a “boy’s club.” He then went on to state that this culture needs to change, with maybe getting someone not involved in tennis to come through and make the changes.

“He has no experience being a tournament director, none. Why does he get it? It’s because it’s a boys club. And I think that needs to change, the culture of that needs to change. I would get someone less involved in tennis, you know? Because when you get someone that’s close to tennis, then he’s used to this, to the ATP being a mess. It’s been a circus for as long as it’s been around. Every major global sport is doing great besides tennis, and I think it’s just the leadership,” added the American.

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