Opelka continues wait for return to action, withdraws from UTS Frankfurt: "I'm just not quite there yet"
ATPThursday, 07 September 2023 at 08:00
America’s tennis star Reilly Opelka has revealed the reason
behind his withdrawal from the upcoming UTS Frankfurt event.
The 26-year-old has struggled with fitness concerns and has
missed all the Grand Slams this year.
Opelka was quoted in a report where he stated that even
though his recovery is going well, he is still not ‘there yet’ to start
participating at the highest level.
“They’re progressing well, actually. I had a few setbacks
along the way with this wrist surgery,” he said. “So it’s just been up and down
for a while, and I’m finally on the right path. I was telling (UTS player
coordinator) Jeremy Chardy that if UTS was one week later, I would be able to
play – or maybe two weeks later – I’m pretty confident I could play but I’m
just not quite there yet.
“I still haven’t fully started serving yet. I think that’s
the biggest thing right now, just having the confidence in my wrist to really
swing hard at the serve.
"So that’s the only thing that’s delaying me further. I
can do it, which is great, but the problem is after one or two days of intense
serving, my wrist still gets a little irritated. So I’ve got to be a little
careful.”
Talking about his rehab, the former world number 17 stated
that it has not been ‘smooth sailing’.
“Unfortunately it’s not been smooth sailing, where I’ve
gone, ‘I feel good, I can play, and maybe I’ll just be smart.’ It’s actually
the opposite,” he said. “I wasn’t able to move my arm for six months of the
year.
"I was in a cast all the way past my elbow. I was kind of stuck like this
for half a year [he moves his arm to sit across the front of his body at a
90-degree angle]. So I just had to learn to be patient.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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