THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2022

Reilly Opelka

Press Conference

R. OPELKA/C. Taberner

7-6, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on today's match.

REILLY OPELKA: Yeah, I thought it was a good one. Obviously haven't played so well on the grass yet this year, so it was nice to get a win.

You know, it was also nice actually having a lighter day today. I needed some matches, and get to play two sets yesterday and a set today, I think I will be in good shape for tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Everyone talks about being aggressive on the grass. Needing to be more aggressive on the grass. How do you define that, given your weapons?

REILLY OPELKA: I think it's just keeping points shorter. It's such, can be such a crapshoot with how bounces are. You know, it's just so much different than any other surface. It's the biggest difference from clay. But it's so slow, grass. Now it's slowed down so much.

So it's really not a server's court anymore like it once was.

Q. Given the absence of certain players at this year's tournament and COVID ripping through the draw as well, how big an accomplishment or how important is Wimbledon this year?

REILLY OPELKA: Not as important as normal, for sure. Yeah, I think Wimbledon -- I think they'll get to the right decision at some point. I think they know now the only -- every other tournament is allowing everyone to play, and that's how it's supposed to be.

I guarantee you next year those guys will be here. It can't be the only one to do that. What, what if it goes on for 10 years? They can't play for 10 years? They'd waste their whole career.

Q. Do you feel anything regarding the ranking points or does that not matter to you when you're on the court?

REILLY OPELKA: Doesn't matter to me on the court. But just an inferior accomplishment.

Q. Following up with what you said, not a server's court, slowing it down. Does that provide you any different opportunities? More time to move, more time to get to the net?

REILLY OPELKA: Yeah, it's tough too to move anyone that takes big steps, like big strides, has a harder time moving on grass. If you look at, in the past, I think Sock's, for example, give you an example, Sock is one of the faster guys on tour. You watch him on a hard court, he's phenomenal. He's a phenomenal mover, he's very explosive. He takes big strides, as do I.

Then you find someone like Denis Kudla who doesn't take those big steps and he moves better on grass. Where Sock or a guy that pushes off, very powerful and quick, they'll lose their footing. Where someone that moves more deliberate and in a different way is kind of like -- I'm giving another example -- of Kudla, is someone that's more comfortable moving on grass. I actually think grass favors the better mover now as opposed to the better server.

Q. Touching on the serve, slightly different area, last night we saw Andy doing an underarm serve on Centre Court. Today, Nick has been up to his usual tricks, doing one between his legs. What's the view of underarm serves? Seems to be a lot more acceptable and more of a regular tactic.

REILLY OPELKA: Guys have dropped more to the fence, the Daniil Medvedevs of the world kind of came in and stood back there and underarm serve came into play.

Q. People have said in the past it's regarded as sort of disrespectful. That's not how players feel anymore?

REILLY OPELKA: Yeah, totally acceptable. Depends on the time. If you have a break and it's 40-Love, then it's like, whatever. It's different. But you don't see Nick doing it down breakpoint.

Q. A big server such as yourself, have you ever considered doing it? That would be a surprise.

REILLY OPELKA: I think I have a better chance of getting the other one by the guy, you know.