Winston Salem, North Carolina was the next destination for Greg, for another $25k Futures tournament. The draw was again fair to Greg, avoiding a seed for is first round match, but throwing up another challenge in the form of a top USA Junior, 2015 Wimbledon champion 18 year-old Reilly Opelka. Standing at 2.13m tall, almost exactly 7 foot high, solidly built Opelka resembles big serving Sam Querrey, but perhaps a bit more athletic looking. Opelka reached the doubles final, as well as winning the singles, at Wimbledon, and is already ranked an impressive 870 in his short pro-tour career.
Serving first, Opelka was quickly into raining down the aces, serving two aces in holding his first serve, then quickly took the attack to Greg's serve, breaking Greg despite Greg having game point twice, to lead 2-0. Greg fought back, however, and although Opleka again served two ace, broke the lanky American, then held serve to level at 2-2. Serves then dominated, with aces being served by Opelka and Greg maintaining a high percentage of first serves, games going with serve to 6-5, Opelka leading. He then applied the pressure on Greg, bringing up break-point on Greg's serve, to bring up set point. Greg saved with an ace, then again presented Opelka another set-point after a double fault. Again Greg rose to the occasion, saving then having game point, then saving another break point, before finally holding serve in a marathon game, to take the set to the tie-break.
Alas, Opelka was the first to gain a mini-break, racing to a 4-1 lead. Greg held for 4-2 but was then broken again,Opelka serving out the tie-break 7-2 to snare the first set 7-6.
With Greg serving first, it was Greg's turn to dominate, holding serve easily, then returning well, forcing Opelka to deuce in his first two service games. Then at 3-2 Greg managed to bring a break point opportunity of the massive Opelka serve, but Opelka rose to the occasion and held to deny Greg the break. Greg was in a good rhythm and matched Opelka, not facing a break point in the second set, games going to the tie-break at 6-6.
Unfortunately Greg did not get off to a good start, losing the first point and going 0-3 down quickly. Opelka had the bit between his teeth now and broke Greg twice more in succession, to go to a 5-0 lead, serving out the tie-break 7-0, shutting out Greg and winning the second set 7-6, and a closely fought contest in straight sets 7-6, 7-6.
Opelka had served 15 aces in the match, countered by 6 double faults and will be a force to be reckoned with on the Men's Pro-tour in the years to come, if he maintains that form. Just Greg's luck to encounter him today. Greg had played well, served at 69%, winning over 73% and returned well, getting Opelka to deuce or break-point in 4 games, but just not in the tie-breaks.
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| Tall Reilly Opelka alongside Mikael Ymer at Wimbledon |
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| Opelka serving at Roland Garros |
With Greg serving first, it was Greg's turn to dominate, holding serve easily, then returning well, forcing Opelka to deuce in his first two service games. Then at 3-2 Greg managed to bring a break point opportunity of the massive Opelka serve, but Opelka rose to the occasion and held to deny Greg the break. Greg was in a good rhythm and matched Opelka, not facing a break point in the second set, games going to the tie-break at 6-6.
Unfortunately Greg did not get off to a good start, losing the first point and going 0-3 down quickly. Opelka had the bit between his teeth now and broke Greg twice more in succession, to go to a 5-0 lead, serving out the tie-break 7-0, shutting out Greg and winning the second set 7-6, and a closely fought contest in straight sets 7-6, 7-6.
Opelka had served 15 aces in the match, countered by 6 double faults and will be a force to be reckoned with on the Men's Pro-tour in the years to come, if he maintains that form. Just Greg's luck to encounter him today. Greg had played well, served at 69%, winning over 73% and returned well, getting Opelka to deuce or break-point in 4 games, but just not in the tie-breaks.
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