Former world No. 17 Reilly Opelka commented on the changes in tennis since his absence from the Tour. The American player has competed in only one match from August 2022 to July 2024.
“Tennis and the balls have changed significantly. Nowadays, there aren’t many serve-dominant players; everyone has to engage more in rallies. I’m aiming to increase my first serve percentage, ideally above 75%.”
“My serve needs to improve. Following wrist surgery, I experienced subsequent arm issues, and I’m working towards regaining consistency. It was physically challenging for me to win consecutive matches. That’s why I participated in a Challenger event in Phoenix last week. My hope is to serve at full power without concerns about my arm or back. I believe I’m progressing towards that goal.”
“While there are other areas for improvement in my game, they are secondary to my serve. Being among the top servers was crucial to my success in 2021 and 2022, much like it was for John Isner at his peak,” Opelka stated in an interview with Tennis Channel.
