Reilly Opelka was absent from the ATP Tour for over a year. The former number 17 sustained an injury that has kept him off the sport for a long time, and he currently does not possess a rank. But the player is stepping back into the sport on the USTA Pro Circuit. However, the 6’11 American player could not relish his comeback without some form of drama as controversy erupted over one of his serves.

The tall American player is no stranger to controversy himself; Opelka’s statements have often stirred up the media and fans. This is quite possibly the first time Opelka was involved in a controversial moment not caused by him.

Reilly Opelka welcomed back with a controversy

Reilly Opelka returned to the sport after a long hiatus, and fans are glad to see him play again. Owing to his long absence, he has been playing in the USTA Pro Circuit so that he can gain ranking points and return to the senior Tour soon. He would win his first match against fellow American Tennys Sandgren in the Challenger tournament, but it would not ensue without some controversy.

During the second set, the score was equal at 3-3. Opelka served at deuce in the middle of the service line and hit an ace. The umpire declared the point in Opelka’s favor, but his opponent felt it was an incredulous call. The exchange was shared by a tennis fan on ‘X’ (formerly, Twitter).

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A tweet reported the exchange, writing, “Ump: ‘Ad Opelka. I saw it in.’ T. Sandgren: ‘Omg, you’ve gotta be kidding me.’ Opelka: ‘What’s wrong?’ T. Sandgren: ‘There is not a chance you saw the ball, let alone it’s in*’ @MikeCTennis – ‘That’s good comedy’.”

Opelka has managed to encounter a controversial moment in his very first match back. It seems as though a certain aura follows him everywhere he goes – made evident even during his injuries and time off the court.

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Opelka’s causes controversy during hiatus

Opelka is often outspoken against the doubles division of tennis. His opinions on the matter have often caused backlash, and they did so once again during his hiatus. He shared a meme on Instagram that depicted a scenario for a tennis player: play doubles or go for a run were the choices offered. Below that was a video depicting the 25-year-old tennis player’s reaction to the situation.

In the visual representation, Tom Hanks’ famous running away scene from the movie Forrest Gump reflected the American tennis player’s decision. He would rather run with his injury than participate in doubles tennis anywhere. 

While that took place in the past, the controversial energy stayed with the 6’11 player as he encountered a contentious moment in his first comeback match. Will we see more such moments during his matches in the future?

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