Reilly Opelka defeated Constant Lestienne in Newport to mark his return after almost two years of absence from the main tour. He made a great start in the first set and raced to a 5-0 lead before winning the first set, 6-1. He showed signs of rust in the second set and Lestienne improved his level. Lestienne made more first serves and hurt Opelka’s second serve. The American player bounced back brilliantly as his serve was so lethal in the third set with 13 aces and no points lost behind the first delivery. He hit 23 Winners and just 5 unforced errors in the final set and won the match in a tiebreaker.
Serving like this in your first match back is pretty remarkable. However, his movement was not as sharp, which is to be expected and should improve with each match.
Reilly Opelka Has Been Sidelined Due To Injuries
Opelka’s last Tour-level match before this was against Nick Kyrgios in Washington, in August 2022. 2022 was proving to be Opelka’s best season with two titles and achieving a career-high ranking of #17. Unfortunately, injuries to his hip and wrist required surgery, sidelining him for nearly 15 months. His last attempt to rejoin the tour at the Charlottesville Challenger last November ended prematurely when he had to pull out of his second-round match due to a shoulder injury.
Newport marks his long-awaited return to the main Tour and it’s so good to see him back. His massive serve is a menace for opponents and has paid his bills throughout his career. But, Opelka is not just about his serve as he has a good backhand and moves the best for someone of his height. He found solace in art and fashion during his recovery. Opelka is only 26 and has many years left in him if he can stay healthy.
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Romance/Palm Beach Post/USAToday Network
