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Reilly Opelka slams ‘joke’ $10k US Open fine for carrying pink unapproved bag on court


It’s clear Reilly Opelka is not the biggest fan of the US Open’s decision (Picture: Elsa/Getty Images)

Reilly Opelka has hit out at the US Open after he was handed a $10,000 (£7,200) fine by the US Open for carrying an unapproved bag onto court.

During his second-round win over Lorenzo Musetti he endured the wrath of tennis officials when he carried on a pink tote bag with the logo of a Belgian art gallery.

The logo of the gallery exceeded the acceptable measurements stated in the rulebook resulting in a hefty fine – the largest ever handed out at the US Open – and it’s clear Opelka is not happy with the decision.

‘I mean, what a joke on the US Open to do that. 10K for a pink bag? Come on,’ Opelka said after advancing to last-16 with victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili

‘The head referee was telling me you should have come in and had this thing measured.

‘The ref just told me, I mean, I actually thought it was a different bag. We had that logo specifically made. We measured. It is too big.

The bag in question – Reilly Opelka endured the wrath of officials because of the logo size (Picture: Elsa/Getty Images)

‘It was not the same bag I was using at the French Open. We made the effort to make it smaller.

‘There was a mistake in production, I think, because in Europe with the conversion, with what was allowed.

‘But, yeah, I made the effort. The referee told me that it was too big and that was it.

‘She said to cover one side of it. That was in my first round. Yeah, I just got slapped with a $10,000 fine.’

It seems Opelka was also unhappy with way he found out about his punishment and hoped his money would be put towards a deserving cause given the Storm Ida situation devastating parts of the country.

‘I didn’t even find out from them, which is even more comical,’ he said.

‘I thought it was a bit harsh, a bit excessive. My job is not to measure logos. My job is to win matches. I have bigger things to worry about.

‘I’d love to see [the amount] get donated elsewhere. We’ve had a few tragedies here in the States the last couple weeks.

‘If they are going to take 10K from me, it better not go to a major corporation. That’s my thought.’

All eyes will be on Opelka (and the bag he carries onto court) when he takes on South African Lloyd Harris in the round of 16.


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