There are so many promising American players challenging the established pros on tour right now that it’s hard not to foresee an American world number one within the next ten years. One of the players who have made the biggest waves despite his young age is 19-year-old Reilly Opelka who in the first round of the Australian Open took 11th seeded David Goffin to five sets: 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

Opelka is tall, really tall, and at 6’11 (205 cm), his biggest weapon is obviously the serve and it doesn’t take five seconds before people start comparing him to John Isner. He is currently ranked 208 in the world, but that ranking will change quickly if he keeps up the game. Because the kid has got some game and is definitely not only a one-shot-wonder. After all, he won the Boys Wimbledon title in 2015.

Opelka endorses the Wilson Pro Staff 97 in its cool, new colour-way, but is really playing the now discontinued Wilson Six-One 95. He strings it with a hybrid of Luxilon Alu Power / Flouro at 50 lbs (22,5 kg approx).

Get the new Wilson racquets and strings at Tennis Express

It will be fun to see what Opelka can do this year. I’m sure it won’t take long before he’ll be a regular in the main draw and with that kind of serve he can definitely do some damage on the green grass of Wimbledon.