I was at Isner/Opelka. Most insane match I've ever seen.

[TimeToPlaySets]

I was at the Isner Opelka match tonight.

I know it's just some silly regional match,
but I felt like I was witnessing something incredible.

Now I know what "serve bot" means.
But, it was 2 serve bots pitted against each other.
I've never seen anything like this.
Neither player was able to return the other guys serve.

It was the most intense match I have seen in my life.

I have never witnessed a match that was so dead even.
The #90 player was indistinguishable from the #9.

Almost no service game ever reached 30.
Only one service game reached deuce.
Most service games were won at 0 or 15.
Every set went to tie break.

Neither player could even return the others serve.
At best, he would bunt it back over.
And the server would then put that 2nd shot away from mid court.

So many serves were blocked and saily 6 feet long.
I felt so good seeing pros do the same as me, when I face a 3.5 with a monster serve (Most 4.0's have dink serves)

Ace after ace.
Serve bot heaven.

If the returner put the ball back into play, it was a big deal.
Maybe once per service game was a ball even put into play.
It was so rare for a point to ever begin.

You knew the entire set would come down to ONE point.
You just needed one break in the TB, and that would decide it.
And it did, in all 3 sets!! One point determined the whole set.

It was the most boring match I have ever seen.
It was the most intense nail biter match I have ever seen.

Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point.

Break serve point.

 

[The Green Mile]

It's the highest combined ace rate for a three set match, 81 aces altogether. 43 from Opelka, 38 from Isner. I was really hoping for Reilly to break the record, just like I was hoping for Kyrgios to do it also earlier in the year against Harrison. No such luck though

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

The 21-year-old American saved six match points in the second-set tie-break to edge top seed John Isner 6-7(10), 7-6(14), 7-6(4) and reach his first ATP Tour final.

The funny part is that there was never any stress about it. All the "match points" were on Opelka's serve. So, he was on serve. Always felt tied, even though he was sometimes one fault away from losing the match. Yet, very little threat of losing the point. It was surreal like nothing I've ever seen before. Even if it was 2nd serve, he was getting service winners. 105mph 2nd serve. That TB went to like 14 points. No one could break. Only one DF in the entire match. Critical error by Isner.

 

[Mainad]

Isner and tie-breaks again!!!

This is the 2nd time this season he has been out tie-broken and out gianted by Opelka (following a 1st round loss to him at the AO) a guy ranked 80 places below him!!

Is Big Reilly setting himself up to become the new Big John???

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

The 2 players were IDENTICAL b/c the serving was everything.
But, the kid was able to hang when the points were played out.
He also hit clutch winners. At 21, he handled the heat.

Either the kid is way underranked, or Isner is way overranked.
The kid will win tomorrow, so his rating will go up!

 

[Red Rick]

The 2 players were IDENTICAL b/c the serving was everything.
But, the kid was able to hang when the points were played out.
He also hit clutch winners. At 21, he handled the heat.

Either the kid is way underranked, or Isner is way overranked.
The kid will win tomorrow, so his rating will go up!

It will already go up to top 60, and if he wins it's only a few places difference caused the #60-#100 section of the rankings is really tight and close together.

He's more talented than Isner, and he should also play in much weaker era's.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

In the video
5:40 is one highlight of this match.

Down 1 set, and after 2 sets of pure serve bot,
Opelka is serving down 2-5 in the 2nd set TB.
Match is as good as over.

Holds serve to get to 4-5
Isner serves and goes to 6-4
Match point.

Opelka breaks serve bot on match point!!
Hits a winner to get back on serve!
TB keeps going.

 

[FreeBird]

Is it just me or Riley moves pretty well for a giant?

 

[rainingaces]

The 21-year-old American saved six match points in the second-set tie-break to edge top seed John Isner 6-7(10), 7-6(14), 7-6(4) and reach his first ATP Tour final.

The funny part is that there was never any stress about it. All the "match points" were on Opelka's serve. So, he was on serve. Always felt tied, even though he was sometimes one fault away from losing the match. Yet, very little threat of losing the point. It was surreal like nothing I've ever seen before. Even if it was 2nd serve, he was getting service winners. 105mph 2nd serve. That TB went to like 14 points. No one could break. Only one DF in the entire match. Critical error by Isner.

He had the first match point on his own serve and they both saved break points.

 

[tennis_pro]

That surface looks so fast, I'd love to see Fed play on it.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Is it just me or Riley moves pretty well for a giant?

After watching this match, I see what they mean about tall guys not moving well.
I think these guys did not move that well, compared to other pros.
When wrong footed, they would not even try to reverse direction.

What is the thought on super tall players and poor mobility?
Their center of gravity is too high?

 

[Red Rick]

After watching this match, I see what they mean about tall guys not moving well.
I think these guys did not move that well, compared to other pros.
When wrong footed, they would not even try to reverse direction.

What is the thought on super tall players and poor mobility?
Their center of gravity is too high?

Inertia mostly. Also ling limbs make it really hard to do 10m sprints very quickly

 

[flyingboris]

Nice, they used a high speed camera on the line to challenge calls. Personally I love it, hope that becomes more common.

 

[Berasategui94]

Nice, they used a high speed camera on the line to challenge calls. Personally I love it, hope that becomes more common.

I think they used the same or similar technology at Tokyo Open last year, and some other tournaments, too. I believe it's even more accurate than the hawk-eye.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

It's called Foxtenn.

 

[NastyWinners]

What??

when I face a 3.5 with a monster serve (Most 4.0's have dink serves)

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Either the kid is way underranked, or Isner is way overranked.

Opelka harness good results end of season last year by winning 2 challengers. He's on his way up on where good serve bot supposed to be.

 

[tlm]

I was at the Isner Opelka match tonight.

I know it's just some silly regional match,
but I felt like I was witnessing something incredible.

Now I know what "serve bot" means.
But, it was 2 serve bots pitted against each other.
I've never seen anything like this.
Neither player was able to return the other guys serve.

It was the most intense match I have seen in my life.

I have never witnessed a match that was so dead even.
The #90 player was indistinguishable from the #9.

Almost no service game ever reached 30.
Only one service game reached deuce.
Most service games were won at 0 or 15.
Every set went to tie break.

Neither player could even return the others serve.
At best, he would bunt it back over.
And the server would then put that 2nd shot away from mid court.

So many serves were blocked and saily 6 feet long.
I felt so good seeing pros do the same as me, when I face a 3.5 with a monster serve (Most 4.0's have dink serves)

Ace after ace.
Serve bot heaven.

If the returner put the ball back into play, it was a big deal.
Maybe once per service game was a ball even put into play.
It was so rare for a point to ever begin.

You knew the entire set would come down to ONE point.
You just needed one break in the TB, and that would decide it.
And it did, in all 3 sets!! One point determined the whole set.

It was the most boring match I have ever seen.
It was the most intense nail biter match I have ever seen.

Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point. Serve. Win point.

Break serve point.

It’s more exciting watching paint dry than watching Isner.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

It's a different style of match.
You're looking for any kind of serve break.
It's a total chess match or golf match.
One false move and it's gone.
Itall comes down to 1-2 points in the TB.
Literally the most suspenseful tennis match I've seen in my life.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Isner v. Nadal.
Isner dominates Nadal in all aspects of the game.
Isner showing great shots beyond the serve.
His approach shot is gold.
Killer FH angles.
Monster server return also.
Smart placement.
I don't see how Isner can ever be beat.
Oh wait, Opelka.

 

[tlm]

Isner v. Nadal.
Isner dominates Nadal in all aspects of the game.
Isner showing great shots beyond the serve.
His approach shot is gold.
Killer FH angles.
Monster server return also.
Smart placement.
I don't see how Isner can ever be beat.
Oh wait, Opelka.

Yep Isner dominates Rafa in all aspects of the game. That’s why his head to head record is 0-7 vs Rafa. Lol

 

[tlm]

It's a different style of match.
You're looking for any kind of serve break.
It's a total chess match or golf match.
One false move and it's gone.
Itall comes down to 1-2 points in the TB.
Literally the most suspenseful tennis match I've seen in my life.

No it’s a boring ass serve contest that is a disgrace to tennis.