Reilly Opelka Bio
Reilly Opelka (born August 28, 1997) is an American professional tennis player known for his towering serve and commanding presence on court. Standing 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m) tall, he is tied with Ivo Karlović for the tallest-ever ATP-ranked player and can produce serves that measure over 140 miles per hour (225 km/h). He has been ranked as high as world No. 17 in singles by the ATP, a position he reached on February 28, 2022, and as high as No. 89 in doubles on August 2, 2021. Across his career, he has won four ATP singles titles and one doubles title, and he captured the junior Wimbledon championship in 2015.
Opelka has carved out a reputation as one of the most imposing servers in the modern game, using his height and swing power to overwhelm opponents on fast surfaces. His career has been shaped by major breakthroughs, injury setbacks, and resilient comeback runs that have kept him relevant on the ATP Tour.
Early Life and Background
Reilly Opelka was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, and moved to Palm Coast, Florida, at age 4, where he spent his formative years. He did not start playing tennis regularly until age 12, when he began training through the USTA in Boca Raton, Florida. That late introduction to the sport, compared with many elite juniors, makes his ascent through the professional ranks even more remarkable.
He credits Tom Gullikson, a former ATP player and coach whom his father knew from playing golf, for much of his early development. Gullikson helped guide Opelka’s technique and competitive approach during a critical stage of his growth. The family later settled in the Palm Coast area, and Opelka currently resides in Delray Beach, Florida.
Off the court, Opelka is an avid supporter of Chicago sports teams, including the Chicago Bulls of the NBA, the Chicago Bears of the NFL, and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL, as well as the Italian Serie A club Lazio. His uncle is radio talk show host Mike Opelka, and he is a close friend of fellow American tennis player Taylor Fritz, serving as the best man at Fritz’s wedding.
Path to Tennis
Opelka’s first major junior achievement came at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships, where he won the boys’ singles title. En route to the final, he defeated junior world No. 1 Taylor Fritz, and he went on to beat Mikael Ymer in the championship match. He also reached the boys’ doubles final that year, partnering with Akira Santillan.
That junior success signaled his arrival on the international stage and set the stage for his transition to the professional ranks. Opelka made his ATP main-draw debut at the 2016 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, where he lost in the first round to fifth seed Sam Querrey. Just months later, at the 2016 Atlanta Open, he won three consecutive matches to reach the semifinals at only his third career ATP event, including a victory over No. 27 Kevin Anderson in which he saved two match points.
By the end of 2016, after a late-season run that included his first ATP Challenger title in Charlottesville, Opelka had broken into the top 200 of the ATP rankings. He continued his upward trajectory in 2017 by qualifying for the Australian Open, where he pushed 11th seed David Goffin to five sets in the first round.
Reilly Opelka Career
Early Career (2015-2017)
Opelka’s transition from promising junior to professional contender gathered pace during the 2015-2017 stretch. His Wimbledon junior title in 2015 was the headline result, and his late-2016 surge on the ATP and Challenger circuits provided momentum heading into the new season. The Atlanta semifinal run, combined with first-round wins at the Los Cabos Open and the Cincinnati Masters, helped him finish 2016 just outside the top 200.
Throughout 2017, Opelka split time between the ATP Tour and Challenger events, collecting experience against higher-ranked opposition. His only ATP main-draw win of the year came at the Memphis Open over fellow Next Gen American Jared Donaldson. Those developmental matches were important building blocks for the breakthrough that followed in 2018.
2018-2019: Breakthrough and First ATP Title
2018 was a breakthrough year for Opelka. He became the first American since Bradley Klahn in 2014 to win three ATP Challenger titles in a single season, lifting trophies in Bordeaux, Knoxville, and the JSM Challenger, while also finishing as runner-up at Cary and Oracle. On the ATP World Tour, he reached the quarterfinals at the Delray Beach Open, where he earned his first career top-10 win by defeating world No. 8 Jack Sock. He finished 2018 ranked No. 99, his first year-end top-100 finish.
In 2019, Opelka secured his first ATP singles title at the New York Open in February, saving six match points against John Isner during the run. He also reached the third round at Wimbledon, defeating Stan Wawrinka along the way, and made appearances in the semifinals in Atlanta, Tokyo, and Basel. He represented the United States at the Davis Cup Finals in November and closed the year ranked No. 36 in the world.
2020-2021: Masters Final and Top 20 Debut
Opelka lifted his second career ATP trophy at the 2020 Delray Beach Open, saving a match point against Milos Raonic in the semifinals. After the COVID-19 pause, he reached his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal at the Cincinnati Masters, where he earned a top-10 win over Matteo Berrettini.
His best season came in 2021. In Rome, he reached his first Masters semifinal by beating Richard Gasquet, Lorenzo Musetti, Aslan Karatsev, and Federico Delbonis before falling to Rafael Nadal. He also reached the third round at the French Open and partnered Jannik Sinner to win his first ATP doubles title at the Atlanta Open. The high point arrived at the Canada Masters in Toronto, where he upset third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach his first Masters 1000 final, eventually losing to Daniil Medvedev. That run pushed him into the top 25 for the first time, and a fourth-round showing at the US Open later that summer lifted him to a career-high No. 19 in September 2021.
2022: Third and Fourth ATP Titles, Then Hiatus
Opelka opened 2022 by reaching the third round of the Australian Open and then winning the inaugural Dallas Open, his third ATP singles title. The semifinal against John Isner produced a 46-point tiebreak, the longest in ATP Tour history at the time. He reached the final at the Delray Beach Open the following week, lost to Cameron Norrie, and climbed to a career-high No. 17 on February 28, 2022. Later in the year, he won his fourth ATP title at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, defeating Isner in the tallest ATP Tour final of the Open Era. A wrist injury then forced him into a lengthy absence from competition.
2023-2025 Comeback Era
Opelka returned to competitive tennis in late 2023 at the Charlottesville Challenger after about 18 months away, and he made his full ATP comeback in July 2024 with a wildcard into the Hall of Fame Open. There, he defeated Constant Lestienne and top seed Adrian Mannarino, then beat Mackenzie McDonald to become the lowest-ranked player in ATP history to reach a tour-level semifinal. That run lifted him more than 750 places in the rankings.
In January 2025, ranked No. 371, he reached the final of the Brisbane International by upsetting top seed Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, his eighth career top-10 win, and his 100th career victory. He was forced to retire in the final against Jiří Lehečka because of back issues. He made a winning start at the 2025 Australian Open, beating Gauthier Onclin, and later reached the semifinals at the Libéma Open as a lucky loser, where he defeated top seed Daniil Medvedev.
Notable Events and Milestones
Opelka’s signature moments include his 2015 Wimbledon junior title, his first ATP trophy at the 2019 New York Open, his run to the 2021 Canada Masters final, and his comeback win over Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Brisbane International. He has also produced one of the longest tiebreaks in ATP Tour history during the 2022 Dallas Open semifinal.
Reilly Opelka Career Wins
Across his career, Reilly Opelka has won four ATP singles titles and one ATP doubles title, along with several Challenger and junior championships. He has recorded multiple top-10 wins, including victories over John Isner, Jack Sock, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini, and Novak Djokovic.
ATP Singles Highlights
Opelka’s first ATP title came at the 2019 New York Open, followed by the 2020 Delray Beach Open, the 2022 Dallas Open, and the 2022 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships. His deepest Masters 1000 run came at the 2021 Canada Masters, where he reached the final.
Doubles and Challenger Highlights
Opelka captured his first ATP doubles title at the 2021 Atlanta Open with Jannik Sinner. He has also won multiple ATP Challenger titles, including a 2018 season in which he won three Challenger trophies, and he claimed the junior Wimbledon title in 2015.
Reilly Opelka Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Reilly Opelka was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, and raised primarily in Palm Coast, Florida. He credits Tom Gullikson, a family acquaintance from his father’s golf circles, with playing a major role in his early tennis development. His uncle is radio talk show host Mike Opelka, and he remains close friends with fellow American Taylor Fritz.
Personal Interests
Off the court, Opelka follows Chicago sports closely, supporting the Bulls, Bears, and Blackhawks, as well as Italian Serie A club Lazio. He is currently based in Delray Beach, Florida, where he continues his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Reilly Opelka’s 2025 season has been defined by a remarkable comeback narrative. Ranked No. 371 entering the Brisbane International in January, he produced one of the biggest upsets of the year by defeating top seed Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. That win marked his eighth career top-10 victory and his 100th career match win, lifting him back into the top 200. A back injury forced him to retire in the final against Jiří Lehečka, but the week established that his serve and competitive level remained elite.
He followed that breakthrough with a first-round win over Gauthier Onclin at the 2025 Australian Open, before losing a five-set battle to Tomáš Macháč in the second round. In June, he reached the semifinals at the Libéma Open as a lucky loser, where he stunned top seed Daniil Medvedev with three consecutive double faults from the Russian in the deciding tiebreak.
As the 2025 season continues, Opelka is working his way back up the ATP rankings with the help of his powerful serve and the experience gained from years on tour. His ability to deliver statement wins against top opposition suggests he remains a dangerous opponent whenever his body allows him to compete consistently.