Reilly Opelka has lived an injury nightmare in the last 18 months, but he is set to end his long layoff next month.
Opelka last played on the ATP Tour at the 2022 Citi Open, where he lost to Nick Kyrgios in the second round. He has since battled a serious hip injury that ruled him out of action for over a year, only making one appearance in 2023 on the ATP Challenger.
His comeback to tour-level tennis was delayed multiple times last season because of a wrist injury, and even his lone appearance on the ATP's second tier in Charlottesville last November resulted in a withdrawal after winning his first match.
The setbacks came at a time when Iopelka looked determined to break into the Top 10 of the men's rankings. The four-time ATP champion missed all four Grand Slams in 2023 and has missed two already this year, including the French Open, which ends later this week.
But tennis fans won't have to wait any longer as the big-serving American will make his long-awaited return to action next month. Opelka's first tournament of 2024 has now been revealed. It will be at the Newport Open, traditionally held the week after Wimbledon, from July 15th to 21st.
"He's back. 4-time @atptour singles champion Reilly Opelka will compete in the Infosys Hall of Fame Open in July, his first event on tour since 2022."
The news of Opelka's return will be a welcome relief not just to his fans but to himself, having discreetly lived through the pain of injury. The 26-year-old kept the information of his comeback private for so long, and it will be interesting to see how he fares on home soil.
The timing is well-planned, by the looks of it. After Newport, Opelka will look to play the North American hard-court swing. He is still eligible for a protected ranking to enter at least nine ATP events (excluding wild cards).