'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Reilly Opelka and John Isner came down heavily on the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Daniil Medvedev, and other top players vacationing in Maldives. The off-season is in full swing for most of the big names on the tour. Quite a few have chosen Maldives as their destination to unwind before beginning their prep for the next season.
Sabalenka was talking about her Maldives trip throughout her WTA Finals 2025 campaign, and rushed to the tropical paradise immediately after the tournament. Medvedev also took a trip to the country with his entire family. Jelena Ostapenko was another notable name spotted on a holiday there.
Opelka, who was a special guest on the latest episode of Isner's podcast Nothing Major, opined that his peers' obsession with a holiday was "weird." Every player on the tour spends most of the year living out of their suitcases. Taking another trip after complaining about a long season seemed redundant to him.
Trending
"It's weird. I actually don't have any explanation for it. My logic is, we travel, every player, myself included, complains that the season's way too long, which it is. We travel 40 weeks consecutively like in a year. We get to come home. I spent less than eight weeks at my house all year," Opelka said.
Opelka found it rather peculiar that players want to take another long trip after traveling throughout the year from one country to another. He felt that it wasn't "normal" at all.
"I think it's just a bit odd that you want to end your season and then you want to take your suitcases and then you want to fly 14 hours or however far it is. It's impossible to get to the Maldives. And then you want to check into another hotel. That's not normal," he added.
Isner agreed with his compatriot's opinions. Despite the scenic views on offer in the Maldives, he felt that players' love for a vacation there is akin to an "epidemic."
"In any event, we all agree it's nuts to immediately go, from as soon as the last tournament ends to go on another vacation. I know it looks pretty nice but it's an absolute epidemic at this point," Isner said.
It's safe to assume that Opelka won't be spotted letting his hair down in the Maldives in the near future. He had a pretty decent season, making his way back into the top 50 for the first time since 2022.
Reilly Opelka ends the 2025 season within the top 50
A major injury forced Reilly Opelka to completely skip the 2023 season. He returned to the tour in July 2024, and concluded the year just outside the top 300. He continued his comeback in 2025, and started the year with a runner-up finish at the Brisbane International.
Opelka also made the semifinals of the Libema Open, and reached the third round at multiple Masters 1000 tournaments. He returned to the top 100 in May, and despite ending the year with three consecutive losses, he cracked the top 50 earlier this month.
Opelka will finish the season ranked No. 50, his best year-end finish since he wrapped up the 2022 season ranked No. 38. The American will be eager to build upon these results for greater success in 2026.
