Tennis player Reilly Opelka of the United States withdrew from the 2022 US Open, giving fellow countryman Jack Sock a spot in the biggest attraction of the Grand Slam’s concluding tournament. Although Reilly Opelka could not provide a reason for missing the US Open, the withdrawal was not unexpected considering his previous workload and ailments.
The American lost his finalist chances from the 2021 Canadian Open since he did not participate in the past two Masters 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati. After Novak Djokovic’s potential withdrawal, Jack Sock, on the verge of receiving direct admission to the US Open, was anticipated to receive a spot in the main tournament. The American is currently the biggest attraction of the New York Major, nevertheless, due to his compatriot’s withdrawal.
If there is still another potential withdrawal, JJ Wolf, another American & wildcard, aims to gain immediate admission into the main draw. Thus, Aleksandar Kovacevic, age 23, might be given a wildcard for the season’s fourth and final Grand Slam. Due to his lack of immunizations, Novak Djokovic would not be permitted to compete in the US Open following existing border regulations. Alexander Zverev, recovering from an ankle problem, has also pulled out of the Grand Slam competition. After undergoing surgery for an ankle injury sustained just at the French Open earlier in the year, Zverev has been sidelined from the competition.
Reilly Opelka criticizes ATP in a series of tweets
Following the selling of the Western and Southern Opens, Reilly Opelka recently attacked its Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for failing to protect the interests of its players. The American tennis players used social media to lambast the ATP, alleging that the organization has a crooked structure that purposefully underpays talent to increase profits. Reilly Opelka was blunt in his criticism of the ATP for failing to pay players what they were due.
When players opt to skip certain Masters 1000 tournaments without being bothered by an ailment, the ATP penalizes them severely. The 24-year-old publicly declared that the French Open, his least favorite Grand Slam, was currently the finest Grand Slam. In his opinion, Roland Garros is the finest Slam since it is the only one unrelated to politics.
He has also been quoted criticizing the US Open for denying Novak Djokovic permission to compete at the tournament because of his immunization history. Casper Ruud received the “sportsmanship award” from many in the tennis community for his extraordinary deed even before the 2022 US Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Ruud willingly gifted Carlos Alcaraz the first game of the eighth game of the first set of a men’s singles final when the chair umpire missed the Norwegian hitting a ball on the double bounce. Reilly Opelka also applauded Ruud for his sportsmanlike behavior. Opelka said it was unsurprising to see Casper Ruud perform such a “class act.”
Alcaraz was defending for just a 5-3 lead with a 4-3 lead in the first set when the event happened. Ruud swiftly told the chair umpire about his decision to drop the point when Alcaraz slammed a backhand into the net following a ball he had made on a double bounce. In many respects, the exchange between Casper Ruud & Carlos Alcaraz at the 2022 US Grand finals was “deja vu,” as the two parties had a similar incident earlier this year during the Miami Open.
Even back then, Ruud set a superb model of sportsmanship and received cheers from both his rival and the audience. Alcaraz noticed the shot was flat during the Miami Open final in May as he prepared to hit a service game. As new tennis balls were brought out, a considerable amount of time had gone since Alcaraz’s initial serve error, making it more difficult for him to serve correctly on his second attempt.
The finest Grand Slam competition now is the French Open, according to Reilly Opelka
The French Open, according to American tennis player Reilly Opelka, is now the finest Grand Slam competition in the world since it is the only Major that hasn’t “gone political.” Djokovic’s exclusion from the Australian Open due to his immunization status kicked off the 2022 season. Players from Russia and Belarus were prohibited from playing at Wimbledon, but those who were not immunized weren’t. Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to compete at the upcoming US Open, but not unvaccinated foreigners like Djokovic.
All of the others have gone so political. Australia declined to allow Novak Djokovic to participate because of his COVID vaccination condition, but I think they’ll let the Russians. The US Open bans Djokovic but excludes the Russians, Wimbledon bans the Russians but allows everyone else to play, and the French allow everyone to participate.