Opelka on his Delray Beach triumph - 'I love playing at home'

The American had to work overtime on Sunday as he played two matches to win the Delray Beach Open on home soil

Reilly Opelka won the Delray Open title after defeating Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-2. The final was a true test of fitness for Opelka as he had played Milos Raonic earlier in the day. Opelka defeated Raonic 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3.

The current world no 39 said he was proud of his performance in his winning third set against Nishioka. Had Opelka not won the third set, the match would have continued. But the 22-year-old said he still had enough strength to keep playing if need be.

"I'm just really proud of the way I fought in the third set," Opelka said of his win against Nishioka. "I got an early break and I broke again. Physically I was feeling pretty good. If he broke me and we had to play more tennis, I was fine."

Opelka resides in Delray Beach. And he loves playing in the tournament as he feels very comfortable on home soil.

"I love playing at home. I have a house not far from here, 10 minutes. So I base here, I've been here the past 10 years, so I'm very comfortable.

It's going to be an event I play a lot the rest of my career just because I plan on staying in South Florida. I love playing in Delray."