Reilly Opelka opens up on US Open draw and jokes he could have had Novak Djokovic

Updated 26/08/2019 at 13:24 GMT

Reilly Opelka thinks his first round draw at the US Open 'sucks', but revealed it could have been worse as he could have faced Novak Djokovic.

Reilly Opelka à Melbourne en 2019

Image credit: Getty Images

Opelka, who is world No 42, makes his US Open main draw debut against Italian Fabio Fognini.

The 21-year-old is one of a cluster of emerging stars on the ATP circuit.

Reilly Opelka faces Fabio Fognini in the US Open first round

Image credit: Getty Images

There are few tough starters he could have had and his opponent stunned Rafael Nadal in the last 32 four years ago.

Fognini also took out the Spaniard en route to success at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this year.

And Opelka has joked he could have had an even harder first round draw.

He said: “I have a tough draw.

“It sucks. Everyone’s good here, but it could’ve been better, could’ve been worse. I could have had Novak [Djokovic].’’

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer begin their US Open campaigns against Roberto Carballes Baena and Sumit Nagal respectively.

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