During her visit to New York City, Serena Williams made a striking prediction about Reilly Opelka’s potential to win the US Open in the future. The tournament’s singles competition is scheduled to begin on August 24 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Opelka is preparing to compete.
Recently, Opelka participated in the US Open mixed doubles event, partnering with Venus Williams. They faced Andrey Rublev and Karolina Muchova in the opening round but were eliminated after a closely contested match, which ended with the score 4-2, 5-4(4) in favor of Rublev and Muchova.
Opelka’s Upcoming Singles Match and Serena’s Supportive Visit
Currently, Reilly Opelka is gearing up for his singles debut at this year’s US Open, where he will compete against Carlos Alcaraz in the first round. During her visit to the tournament, Serena Williams shared a video on her Instagram story that featured Opelka training for his upcoming singles match. Along with the video, she made a confident statement predicting that Opelka will eventually win the US Open, signaling strong support for his future career.
Opelka and Serena Williams have consistently been supportive of one another, highlighted by his congratulations to Serena when she received the Portrait of a Nation award in November 2022.
Reilly Opelka Praises the Unique Mindset of the Williams Sisters
In December 2022, Reilly Opelka appeared on the ATP Tennis podcast, where he discussed the exceptional mentality of Serena and Venus Williams. He acknowledged that the mindset of the Williams sisters, along with other top tennis players, is unlike that of most athletes and described them as “wired differently.”
“You look at the mindset of Top 5 guys on tour; they are abnormal. They’re extremely abnormal human beings. They’re wired differently and I know from experience of being around Venus and Serena Williams, there is nothing normal about them and I mean that as a total compliment,” said Reilly Opelka.
Opelka also reflected on the dedication required to continue competing at the highest level later in a player’s career.
“Imagine being 38, 39 years old with every record in the game and everything you can imagine but still doing everything possible to do better, I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that,” he added.
Opelka’s Current Season and Challenges
This year, Reilly Opelka has yet to claim a title. At the Brisbane International, his season opener, he reached the final round but was forced to withdraw during his match against Jiri Lehecka due to a back injury, handing the victory to his opponent. Despite this setback, Opelka remains focused as he prepares for the US Open singles event.
Implications and Outlook for Opelka’s Career
Serena Williams’ prediction adds a significant vote of confidence in Reilly Opelka’s potential to capture a major title such as the US Open in the future. The upcoming singles tournament presents an opportunity for Opelka to demonstrate his growth and competitiveness on one of tennis’s biggest stages. His relationship with the Williams sisters, coupled with his strong mental approach, suggests he has the resilience and support necessary to elevate his performance in the years ahead.