In the first point of Reilly Opelka’s US Open match against #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday afternoon, the American sprinted forward to retrieve a drop shot. Opelka then lunged for a backhand volley to save the point and spun around before guessing right on the next ball and smacking away a forehand volley winner. The 22nd seed gave the raucous Court 17 crowd a huge fist pump as his coach, former World No. 7 Jay Berger, leapt out of his seat.
It was a tight match, but like that crucial point, all the big moments went in Opelka’s favour in his 7-6(1), 7-5, 6-4 victory to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows for the first time. Opelka will next play Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili or American qualifier Maxime Cressy as he tries to make his maiden fourth round at a major.
Opelka certainly has momentum on his side. The 24-year-old recently made his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto, where he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals. Earlier this year, he made his first semi-final at that level in Rome.
The two-time ATP Tour titlist defeated Musetti 6-4, 6-4 during his run at the Foro Italico, but he was clear that he expected a tougher match this time around. That is what Opelka got, but he rose to the occasion with 31 aces and 61 total winners to triumph after two hours and 21 minutes.
Opelka did not lose serve in the match, saving all four break points he faced. At 5-5 in the second set, he earned his first break by pouncing on a return and rushing the net, where he put away a forehand volley.
Again in the third set, all it took was one break and Opelka rode his serve to the finish line in front of his home crowd. The 6'11" right-hander is the highest-ranked American left in the draw.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/3yJGeNA
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