From a tumor removed to defeating Djokovic, the incredible story of Opelka

Jose Morón | 3 Jan 2025 | 20.00

From a tumor removed to beating Djokovic, Opelka's incredible story. Photo: Getty

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"Wasn't Opelka retired?" That was the question many asked themselves this noon when they saw Novak Djokovic struggling to counter Reilly Opelka's shots. It's logical that many lost track of him. He has been away from the courts for more than two years due to various problems. Too many. The kind that would make for a documentary on Netflix. The taste of victory against Nole, the biggest in several years, is the reward for a path so tough that few could imagine.

Opelka is ranked 293rd. Deceptive, no doubt. The American once reached as high as 17th in the world, and his tennis is closer to the top than his current ranking reflects. His 2.11 meters of height don't show when he's moving on the court. Despite always being compared to his compatriot John Isner, the truth is that Reilly stood out for his great mobility from the baseline. However, his body was going to force him to stop due to a word that scares anyone: tumor.

A tumor in the hip almost ended his career

In August 2022, Opelka had been suffering from a hip problem. The pain became unbearable, and he decided to stop. He had a benign tumor that had shifted into the joint, blocking it. "The tumor moved and got stuck in the hip. I couldn't even move my leg. When I had surgery, I couldn't even walk every time I got up," said the Michigan native, recalling what happened. He went under the knife once to remove that tumor and later underwent another surgery to extract certain bone fragments left scattered in the joint.

But that was just the beginning of his problems. Once he left the hip issue behind, another arose: the wrist. He subluxated the wrist tendon, and the operation didn't go as he wished. After an attempted return in October 2023, he had to stop again due to the pain. "I couldn't sleep at night. I had pain in my arm and hand. The surgeon ruined everything. I got infected and felt a very strong pain. The second operation caused nerve problems in my arm," he stated.

Months passed, and nothing was resolved. Meanwhile, he watched his peers compete in the best tournaments in the world on TV. He missed the circuit and never lost hope of returning. That way, Opelka worked to make a comeback on the courts in 2024 on a journey that was slow but steady. He left behind his fears and insecurities to gain competitive rhythm little by little.

An exciting start to the year

In this 2025, as mentioned, many had overlooked Opelka. Today, January 3rd, they will have remembered what the Michigan native was capable of. Reilly is a serve, yes, but he is much more. He doesn't unsettle Djokovic just with a good serve. This victory against the Serbian is a way of telling everyone that he hadn't forgotten how to play tennis and that sometimes, the desire can overcome even the biggest injuries. Reilly is back. And what a comeback it is.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, De un tumor extirpado a ganar a Djokovic, la increíble historia de Opelka