"They don't push me more than Medvedev or Tsitsipas" - Opelka on the growing number of Americans on Tour

Ahead of his campaign at the Citi Open Washington, Reilly Opelka is happy to see a lot of American players in the top 50 of the ATP singles rankings.

However, the lanky 24-year-old added that he's not looking to feed off his compatriots in an individual sport. Taylor Fritz (12) and Opelka (17) lead a group of eight American men in the top 50 of the ATP rankings. The others are Frances Tiafoe (27), Maxime Cressy (32), John Isner (33), Tommy Paul (34), Jenson Brooksby (37) and Mackenzie McDonald (48). Marcos Giron (53) and Sebastian Korda (54) lead a group of six other American men in the top 100.

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When asked if he feeds off the success of his compatriots, Opelka replied in the negative, saying that he's happy to hang out with some of his friends on tour. He doesn't feel pushed by any of them, and that goes both ways, added the American.

"I don't feed off it at all," said Opelka in a press conference ahead of his Citi Open campaign. "Why should I? It's not a competition. It's an international sport. I don't feed off of what they're doing. I don't feed off of how many we have in the top 50. It's an individual international sport."

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The Dallas titlist went on to say he enjoyed the company of his compatriots, but felt no extra pressure or drive due to their success on court.

"I mean, it's nice having them around just to hang out with," added Opelka. "I feel as long as we have got them in the top hundred, top 50, just to have some friends on tour, that's all I care about. I don't look at it any other way. They don't push me more than Medvedev or Tsitsipas or one of those guys. It's the same."