Summer vibes and tennis triumphs—Reilly Opelka’s comeback is heating up and so is the banter! “We all know what I’m capable of when I stay healthy,” the American tennis player said after reaching the quarterfinals in Newport. But the best was yet to come! He reached his first semifinals in nearly two years, utilizing his biggest serves as his trump card. And just like all of us, his countryman, Sam Querrey, couldn’t stay silent and shared a special message for the 26-year-old player. However, keeping up with the latest trend in social media, his message had a playful twist to it!

The ATP Tour Instagram account posted a special tribute to Opelka after his massive win against Mackenzie McDonald by 4-6, 6-3, 7-4 in the Hall of Fame Open’s QFs. By now, we are all aware of the “Hot Girl Summer” trend, a phrase to showcase the carefree and celebratory mood of women during the summer. Interestingly, standing at six feet, eleven inches, the tallest-ever ATP-ranked player, Opelka is known to produce one of the biggest serves in the sport, with some exceeding 140 mph! As a result, the he is often described as the “Serve Bot” of the sport.

In the comment section of the post, Sam appreciated him with a fun nod to his nickname, “Serve Bot.” The former World No. 11, Querrey added an extra layer of excitement to it with a slight modification: “Bot Girl Summer”! 

With this added advantage, Opelka has produced some amazing results in tennis, reaching the ATP rank of 17 in 2022. However, as a tumor on his hip troubled him, he had to take some time off and undergo surgery in 2022. The surgery was successful, and he was ready to play his favorite sport once again, but his wrist problem further delayed his comeback.

And after fixing his wrist with another surgery, he finally returned to action this season after a second-round exit in the ATP Challenger tour last year. Even though he joined the season late, his impressive form has captivated our attention instantly, and he is as joyous about it as we all are!

Opelka opens up on his “great step” in tennis after a comeback

“It is what it is, it’s part of sports,” Opelka said about his injury struggles. The pain of multiple surgeries, along with the inability to move his arm for six months, had a long-lasting impact on his mental and physical health. At one point, he even considered retiring too. However, he has come through all of it with sheer hard work and patience. And now he wants to keep on going with the same rhythm.

“Luckily, I feel like I’m just kind of picking right back up from where I left off. From where I was a couple months ago, this is a great step for me. I wasn’t sure if I’d be playing this year or not, but I feel really good for now about my body, knock on wood. It seems to change every week but it’s definitely heading in the right direction.”

With Alex Michelsen as his next opponent in the Hall of Fame Open, Opelka progresses in the game with the intent of winning his maiden title of this season. And with the motivation from the tennis world, hopefully he will achieve his goal soon!