Reilly Opelka, the towering American tennis pro, has found himself at the centre of controversy once again, this time facing an exorbitant $80,000 fine at the Indian Wells event. This revelation came to light post his Miami Open R64 match against Holger Rune this Saturday. The young American, standing at 6’11”, has been frequently embroiled in peculiar disciplinary situations throughout the season, leaving many to question the fairness of these decisions.
The drama unfolded during his recent match against Rune, which Opelka managed to clinch in a thrilling three-setter 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), advancing to the next round in Florida. However, tempers flared in the final set during the tie-break, with Rune leading 2-1. Opelka’s backhand shot whizzed past Rune, leveling the tie-break 2-2. Rune, seemingly frustrated, approached the chair umpire, complaining about a sudden lighting change that allegedly distracted him during the crucial point.
Following a video review, it was concluded that there was no hindrance due to the lights, and the match proceeded without further incident. Nonetheless, Opelka expressed solidarity with Rune’s concerns post-match, stating, “If the lights bug him, they bug him. I don’t think he’s making anything up. He played within the rules to do the video review. There was no foul play on his side.”
However, Opelka’s own experience with lighting issues at Indian Wells was far less understanding, resulting in a hefty fine. He revealed, “They (officials) couldn’t figure out how to turn on the lights. I asked for them. And then boom, I got slapped with a nice fine. So I’m playing for free this week.”
This incident is not the first time Opelka has voiced dissatisfaction over umpiring decisions. Earlier in the season, during his match at the Dallas Open against Cameron Norrie, he was penalized for an outburst directed at hecklers in the stands. The chair umpire, Greg Allensworth, hit him with a code violation and point penalty, a decision that Opelka sharply criticized post-match.
The 27-year-old pro called Allensworth “the worst ump on the tour,” accusing him of almost altering the match’s outcome due to his emotional involvement and lack of control over the crowd. He further called for the ATP to penalize Allensworth for his handling of the situation.
As Opelka gears up to face Tomas Machac in the third round at Miami – a rematch of their Australian Open encounter where Machac emerged victorious – the American will surely be hoping for a smoother sailing. Amid the controversies and fines, Opelka’s tennis skills continue to shine on the court. However, his recent experiences raise questions about the perceived double standards in tennis officiating, a topic that warrants further examination.