Opelka goes on tirade against chair umpire after reaching Dallas quarter-finals
The American was given a point penalty for using an expletive aimed at a fan who had been heckling him
©Zuma / Panoramic
Reilly Opelka managed to win his second-round match at the ATP Dallas Open on Thursday night, but it was not without controversy.
With Opelka serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set, the 6ft 11inch American was distracted by an apparent heckler in the stands prior to the 30-all point. Opelka then told the heckler to leave, doing so multiple times — and each time using an expletive in the process. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth immediately gave Opelka a code violation and point penalty.
Following a lengthy discussion with both Allensworth and the tournament supervisor, the 27-year-old suddenly found himself down break point at 30-40 rather than 30-all. In the end, though, Opelka saved that break point and two more before finally holding serve to clinch a 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory.
Despite successfully getting across the finish, there was no handshake with Allensworth and an enraged Opelka did not hold back in his post-match press conference.
Opelka called Allensworth “the worst ref in the ATP” while also defining the umpire as “bush league” and “amateur hour.” When asked what he was looking forward to for the remainder of the tournament, he responded, “not having [Allensworth] on my court.”
The world No 145 will face fellow American Tommy Paul on Friday. Paul scraped past American qualifier Ethan Quinn 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.
People in this post
More tennis news
Rybakina and Swiatek both fight through to set up Toronto final decider
August 13, 1999: The day Steffi Graf announced her retirement
Shelton and Nakashima set up first all-American Masters 1000 final since 2003
August 12, 1990: The day Stefan Edberg won Cincinnati to become world No 1
Rybakina claws back from double jeopardy to beat Osaka and set up first-ever Gauff meeting since 2022
