Speed is one of the most important attributes in tennis, with some of the fastest players on tour often picking up the big titles.
Several players on the ATP Tour are well known for their speed, reaching balls, and making shots that would be impossible for others.
World number seven Alex de Minaur has gained notoriety for being one of the quickest players in tennis, and put his speed to good use in 2024, as he reached the ATP Finals for the first time.
French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz is another known for his speed, exciting fans with his ability to chase down shots on a regular basis.
Certain players on tour are perhaps more known for their ball striking, with big servers such as Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz, achieving success in men’s tennis against their ‘quicker’ rivals.
However, one of the sport’s biggest-ever servers has now revealed that a fellow giant is one of the quickest players on tour.
John Isner says Reilly Opelka would win a 100 yard sprint over anyone on the ATP Tour
Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, former Miami Open champion John Isner picked the player he thinks is one of the quickest in tennis.
“Okay, we are the same height,” he said.
“How well does that guy move?
“I am taking him in a 100 yard sprint over anyone on tour.
“I am taking Reilly Opelka.”
Isner said that one of Opelka’s ATP Tour rivals would back that statement up.
“Ask Tommy Paul,” he said.
“Straight line, we are not doing shuttle drills side to side.
“Tommy Paul says Reilly Opelka dusts him in a 100-yard sprint.”
Reilly Opelka’s impressive Brisbane International performance
Opelka returned to the ATP Tour in 2024, after a two-year hiatus, and quickly began building his fitness back up.
He started 2025 with a bang, as Opelka beat Novak Djokovic at the Brisbane International, 7-6, 6-3, to secure his first top-ten win in four years.
Isner was impressed by Opelka’s level during his quarter-final win over Djokovic in Brisbane.
“His forehand seemed to be with great margin, he wasn’t spraying it here and there,” he said.
“He was staying in these baseline rallies with Djokovic.”
Opelka then beat fellow big-server Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the semi-finals, before suffering an injury against Jiri Lehecka in the final.
His injury doesn’t seem too severe, however, and Opelka will be confident of securing a big win over world number 236 Gauthier Onclin in the first round of the Australian Open.
A few early wins for Opelka could see him set up a Brisbane International rematch with Djokovic in the third round.
Fellow American Andy Roddick recently gave his thoughts on how that match-up could go.
“The best of-five format favors Novak [Djokovic] over everyone except maybe a couple of players on earth at this point in his career,” he said.
“There is a long road still, let’s say this is three out of five and [Reilly] Opelka wins the first two, he still has to be physically there, mentally there.
“It’s still a long way to beat Novak.”
Opelka would have to match his previous best performance in Melbourne, if he is to come up against Djokovic later this month, but will first focus on his first-round match against Onclin on Sunday, January 12.
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