Gabriel Diallo’s smile was telling Thursday evening in New York.
The 22-year-old Canadian qualifier’s happiness showed after he upset 24th seed Arthur Fils 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round of the US Open. The 6'8" Diallo began the week without a major main draw win to his name. Now he owns two.
“Obviously super happy, especially the way that I’ve been playing throughout the summer,” Diallo said. “I’ve been able to put up some good matches and continuously bring a very good level and giving myself some chances to win. Now it’s time to recover, try to analyse the match and get ready for Saturday.”
[ATP APP]The former University of Kentucky standout explained that a big moment for him came in July at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Chicago, where he lifted the trophy. Diallo did not lose a set all week en route to his third Challenger trophy.
“Especially the way I won it. I didn’t get broken the whole week,” Diallo said. “I faced only maybe five break points throughout the whole tournament and it wasn’t like I was banging 25 aces a match. I was playing really well behind my serve, so I think that gave me the confidence to know that even if I’m not serving great, I can still get myself some good chances to win.”
After that, the Canadian reached another Challenger semi-final in Cary and advanced through qualifying at Flushing Meadows to earn a place in his second major main draw.
“In the second round of qualies I was down 6-3, 5-3. I saved two match points, so I just remind myself that everything is a bonus from now, because just a week ago I was contemplating going home,” Diallo said. “Obviously there are a lot of nerves, but you try to focus on the tactics, what you can control, where you want to hit the ball, what you want to do to win the point.”
Now the Canadian is a win against 14th seed Tommy Paul from reaching the second week at a Grand Slam tournament.
A rising star whose father is from Guinea and mother is from Ukraine is shining on the world’s stage.
“My dad comes from a very small village, you can’t even see it on the map, actually,” Diallo said. “Me and him tried to go on a map and see it, and it doesn’t appear on the map. I’m not even kidding.”
Diallo is up to No. 103 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, so it is certainly on the map now.
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