LONDON — American tennis player Reilly Opelka, who once famously dismissed doubles as "for failed singles players," suffered an ironic defeat in his first-round doubles match at the Cinch Championships at Queen's Club on Tuesday. The 6-foot-11 serve specialist and his partner, fellow American Sebastian Korda, fell to British duo Lloyd Glasspool and Henry Patten in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Opelka, known for his outspoken opinions, made the controversial remark about doubles in a 2021 interview, sparking backlash from doubles specialists and fans alike. "Doubles is for failed singles players," he said bluntly, adding, "It's just not as competitive or prestigious." The comment resurfaced this week as Opelka, primarily a singles player with a career-high ranking of No. 17, took to the doubles court—only to be swiftly eliminated.
A Humble Pie Moment
The loss was particularly stinging given Opelka’s previous dismissal of doubles tennis. Glasspool and Patten, ranked No. 24 and No. 34 in doubles respectively, outplayed the American pair with superior net play and coordination. Opelka, despite his powerful serve, struggled to adapt to the faster-paced doubles format.
Key moments from the match included:
- Glasspool and Patten breaking Opelka’s serve in the first set
- Korda’s unforced errors at critical points
- The British pair’s flawless net coverage, converting 80% of their net points
Post-match, Glasspool couldn’t resist a subtle jab: "It’s always satisfying to win, especially against someone who doesn’t respect the discipline. Doubles requires a different skill set—teamwork, reflexes, strategy. Maybe today was a learning experience."
The Backstory: Opelka’s Controversial Take
Opelka’s 2021 comments weren’t just a passing remark—they were part of a broader critique of how doubles is perceived in professional tennis. He argued that the sport’s infrastructure prioritizes singles, leaving doubles players underpaid and undervalued. However, his phrasing rubbed many the wrong way, including doubles legends like Bob and Mike Bryan.
Mike Bryan fired back at the time: "Reilly’s entitled to his opinion, but he’s wrong. Doubles is a craft. It’s like saying point guards in basketball are failed centers. The game’s different, and the best doubles players are specialists, not ‘failures.’"
The Financial Reality
While Opelka’s comments were divisive, they highlighted a real issue: prize money disparity. At Grand Slams, doubles champions earn roughly 10-15% of what singles winners take home. For example:
- 2024 Australian Open singles champion: $2.5 million
- 2024 Australian Open doubles champions (per team): $730,000
Still, many argue that doubles offers longevity and opportunities for players who may not crack the singles top 100. As Patten noted after the match: "Doubles gave me a career. Not everyone’s built to be a 6’11” serve bot."
What’s Next for Opelka?
Opelka, who missed most of 2023 due to injury, is still working his way back up the singles rankings. His Queen’s appearance was only his second doubles event this year. When asked if he’d reconsider his stance on doubles, he shrugged: "I play doubles to get reps in. Today wasn’t my day. My focus is singles."
The loss adds to a tough grass-court season for Opelka, who was also ousted early in Stuttgart. His next chance to prove himself will be at Wimbledon, where he’ll need a wildcard or to qualify for the main draw.
Conclusion: A Lesson in Humility?
While Opelka’s loss won’t silence debates about doubles’ place in tennis, it does serve as a reminder: every format demands respect. As Glasspool put it: "You can’t just show up and expect to win. Doubles isn’t a consolation prize—it’s a different game. And today, we played it better."
For now, the tennis world is left to wonder if Opelka will double down on his criticism—or if this loss will prompt a change of heart. Either way, the irony wasn’t lost on fans, who took to social media to meme the moment with captions like "Guess doubles isn’t so easy after all."