The tallest player in history, Opelka, takes on the youngest-ever world No.1, Alcaraz

The last Grand Slam of the season—the 2025 US Open—begins today. The highlight and most intriguing first-round encounter is between the world No.2, Spain’s all-around fighter Alcaraz, and the American powerhouse Opelka. It marks the tallest player in history, Opelka, challenging the youngest former world No.1, Alcaraz.

When it comes to towering players on the ATP Tour, three stand out: Croatian veteran Karlovic, born February 1979, standing 2.11 meters tall, who has not competed since October 2021; American big server Isner, born April 1985, 2.08 meters tall, retired after the 2022 US Open; and American giant Opelka, born August 1997, also 2.11 meters tall, tied with Karlovic as the tallest players ever.

Back in the day, Karlovic’s serve was incredibly fast and sharp, repeatedly setting ATP Tour ace records. Then Isner emerged, breaking Karlovic’s ace records multiple times. During the 2016 Davis Cup, Isner unleashed a 253 km/h ace, setting the ATP fastest serve record; at Wimbledon 2022, Isner surpassed Karlovic to become the player with the most aces in history.

Opelka is similar, possessing a powerful serve and forehand. In 2015 at Wimbledon, he won the junior championship and turned professional the same year; in the 2019 Wimbledon second round, Opelka defeated Swiss veteran and three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka, reaching his first Grand Slam third round.

In the 2021 Rogers Cup Masters in Canada semifinals, Opelka came from behind to beat then world No.3, the Greek pirate Tsitsipas, reaching his first Masters final, though he lost to then world No.1, Russian tsar Medvedev. At the 2021 US Open, Opelka advanced to the fourth round on home soil, marking his best Grand Slam result so far; on February 28, 2022, he achieved his career-high ranking of No.17.

Since May 2022, due to frequent injuries, Opelka stayed away from the ATP Tour for over two years, barely playing. He finally returned in July 2024. In the quarterfinals of the ATP250 Brisbane event in January 2025, Opelka caused an upset by defeating 24-time Grand Slam champion and Serbian ace Djokovic, showing clear signs of revival and strong form.

However, Opelka’s performance remained poor at the 2025 Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, exiting in the second round each time. In the North American hard-court season, he was reversed by Medvedev in the second round of the ATP500 Washington event, reached the third round after beating Czech sharpshooter Machac in the Rogers Cup Masters, and again reached the third round after defeating top-ten player and Australian rising star De Minaur in the Cincinnati Masters second round.

Opelka is a player who heavily depends on his serving form. When his serve is on, combined with his forehand, he can overcome top-ten opponents like De Minaur, Tsitsipas, and Djokovic. But if his serve struggles, his chances in the match quickly diminish.

In the first round of the 2025 US Open, Opelka was unlucky to face Alcaraz. Back at the 2022 US Open, the young Spanish prodigy Alcaraz soared to victory, winning the title and becoming world No.1—the youngest among the 28 world No.1s since ATP’s computerized ranking began in 1973. Now, with five Grand Slam titles and eight Masters trophies, Alcaraz is an acclaimed, highly sought-after top player, standing shoulder to shoulder with world No.1 and Italian rising star Sinner, dominating the scene.

This first-round 2025 US Open match is also their first career meeting, truly captivating fans: the tallest player ever, Opelka, challenges the youngest world No.1, Alcaraz—maximum excitement and suspense guaranteed.

Can Opelka unleash his full power, leveraging his blazing serves and sharp forehands to launch relentless, lightning-fast attacks against Alcaraz, seeking victory? And can Alcaraz withstand Opelka’s ace barrage, using his rich tactics and versatile shot-making to outmaneuver Opelka on the court, turning strength into weakness?

(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Qicidoufan)