The 22-year-old Opelka is ranked 39th on the ATP Tour, winning a tournament in Delray Beach earlier this year.

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, professional tennis star Reilly Opelka donated 500 facemasks to his hometown of Palm Coast this week.

The 22-year-old Opelka, who grew up in Palm Coast after his family moved from Michigan in 2002, partnered with independent, eco-friendly clothing brand MULCH to distribute the masks.

"For me, it’s just a small way to thank the essential workers and medical staff that have been keeping Palm Coast up and running during these difficult times," Opelka said. "Palm Coast has always been extremely supportive of me and so has MULCH. It was the perfect opportunity to support one another and give back."

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Philippe Zarif, MULCH’s co-founder, said his company created 500 "better-than-nothing" masks in the space of 72 hours. Roughly three weeks ago, Zarif said production of T-shirts stopped and the company pivoted to the production of masks.

Opelka immediately contacted Zarif and mentioned he wanted to and said he mailed the masks to his father, George, who passed them along to the city manager’s office.

Opelka, one of the tallest players in tennis at 6-foot-11, is currently ranked 39th on the ATP Tour. He is 7-3 during the 2020 season, including a hard-court title in Delray Beach, his second professional tournament triumph.

The ATP Tour season is currently suspended due to COVID-19 concerns, and the championships at Wimbledon have already been canceled for the first time since World War II.

Opelka won the junior tournament at Wimbledon in 2015. The City of Palm Coast honored the then-18-year-old two months later, handing him a commemorative sign with congratulatory messages and signatures from more than 200 residents.

"Palm Coast is where I grew up, it’s where my parents still live, so it’s pretty much still home for me," said Opelka, who currently resides in Boca Raton. "A lot of people are still working through this difficult situation and experiencing some tough times. It’s a small gesture, a small way to say thank you. I think 500 masks will go a long way in a city like Palm Coast."