There are many ways to win a tennis match. During this year’s US Open, USOpen.org will be playing a numbers game, digging deeper into the statistical analysis of select matches to provide highlights, further insights and data points on player performance.
Reilly Opelka edged out Lorenzo Musetti in a great battle on Court 17, winning in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4, in Round 2 of the 2021 US Open on Thursday.
The American has won all 33 of his service games at this year’s US Open, which prompted us to analyze some of the numbers behind his serve:
- 2.12m The height of the tall American
- 3.09m The height from the ground Opelka contacts his serve—the third highest at this year’s Open.
- 147.2 mph Opelka’s and the US Open’s fastest serve this year
- 128 mph The average speed of the Opelka’s first serve—the fifth highest at this year’s Open
- 71% First serves in—the sixth-highest at this year’s Open
- 82% Points won on the first serve—the tenth highest at this year Open
- 24 cm How much higher Musetti’s return contact point was today compared to his Round 1 match (1.34 m vs. 1.58 m)—the tall American’s serve trajectory creates extra bounce.
- 72% How often Opelka hits his preferred forehand on the shot after his serve
This kind of domination on serve makes Opelka a huge threat as he moves into a career-best 3rd round at the US Open.
