Riley Opelka is through to the third round of the Dallas Open, but his victory over Cameron Norrie is being overshadowed by a heated confrontation with chair umpire Greg Allensworth.
The two-and-a-half-hour battle saw Opelka fight back from a set down to edge out Norrie 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, setting up a clash with Tommy Paul in the next round. However, it was a tense courtside altercation that stole the spotlight, as Opelka erupted at both a disruptive spectator and the umpire, sparking major controversy.
The Controversial Incident: Opelka’s Fiery Outburst at a Heckler
The flashpoint occurred in the second set, with Opelka preparing to serve when a spectator shouted loudly, throwing him off. The American, visibly irritated by the repeated disruptions, turned his anger toward the fan.
“You doing it on fuing purpose or what? Go the fk inside, buddy.”
The exchange immediately drew the attention of chair umpire Greg Allensworth, who issued a penalty to Opelka for his outburst. But that decision only escalated the situation, leading to a furious argument between Opelka and the umpire.
Opelka Unleashes on Umpire: ‘The Worst on Tour’
After the match, Opelka didn’t hold back in his criticism of Allensworth, claiming that his lack of control over the crowd nearly changed the outcome of the match.
“Greg Allensworth was the worst ref in the institute, as we were talking about in the locker room with all the players. It’s a coincidence, like literally two days ago. Definitely like the worst umpire on tour. He almost changed the outcome of that match just because he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
‘He Didn’t Do His Job’ – Opelka Calls Out Poor Officiating
Opelka argued that Allensworth failed to take action against the heckler, forcing him to handle the situation himself.
“He got emotional when we were arguing, and he got intense and frantic. He couldn’t give me an answer. ‘You didn’t tell that guy to shut up. He was doing it for like three points.’ He didn’t do his job, so I had to tell him to get out of here.”
The towering American further justified his reaction, stating that he wouldn’t tolerate a disruptive fan ruining his focus.
“The guy was being quite rude; I’m all for whatever, but if you want to come here to be an ahole, then I’m gonna be one back. And then if the ref isn’t doing his job and he penalizes me? Not a good look.”**
A fan was bothering Reilly Opelka during his service motion, Opelka responded and was given a point violation…
He’d end up holding and winning the match but this feels like a very poor job of umpiring pic.twitter.com/s05wSstKJ0
Did Opelka Have a Point? Players Rally Behind His Criticism
Opelka’s brutal assessment of Allensworth has already sparked locker-room discussions, with some players apparently agreeing that the umpire has a reputation for poor officiating.
This incident raises a larger debate about officiating consistency and crowd control in professional tennis—an issue that has been magnified in recent years with rowdier audiences at major tournaments.
What’s Next for Opelka?
Despite the controversy, Opelka remains one of the tournament’s standout performers, showcasing his dominant serve and strong mental resilience.
His third-round match against Tommy Paul will be closely watched—not just for the tennis, but also for whether the fiery American continues to challenge authority.
For now, one thing is certain: Opelka isn’t afraid to speak his mind, and his outspoken nature will keep him in the headlines long after the tournament is over.
