Diallo outshines Dimitrov, advancing to the quarterfinals amazedly.
Rewritten Article:
Hailing from Montreal, Gabriel Diallo turned the tables against Grigor Dimitrov in a thrilling three-set battle at the Madrid Open on Wednesday, clinching a spot in the quarter-finals with a 5-7, 7-6 (7), 6-4 triumph. This marks the first time Diallo has reached this stage in a Masters event throughout his career.
The match took a dramatic turn when Diallo claimed the second set in a tiebreak, setting up a decisive third round. In the final set, Diallo broke Dimitrov in the opening game, eventually clinching the win on his first match point after forcing his opponent into an error.
"Tennis is a rollercoaster ride," Diallo shared post-match. "You've gotta learn to ride those waves, and today I managed to steer clear of the rocks."
Dimitrov relied on his formidable serve to gain an edge in a close-fought second set. He racked up seven aces in his last three service games and another in the tiebreak. However, Diallo displayed resilience, saving three match points and securing two return points to take an 8-7 advantage. He eventually clinched the set with an ace.
"I thought my journey was over," Diallo confessed. "The margin was so slim. Maybe that was the best serving I've ever shown. I was fortunate to get that point at 4-6, and then I had faith in my serve. I managed to save another match point."
The crucial juncture in the first set arose at 5-5, when Diallo alternated two double faults and two aces before Dimitrov broke and seized the set.
In terms of break points, both players remained relatively resilient, with Diallo fending off only one break point, whereas Dimitrov faced four. Dimitrov ended the match with 14 aces, compared to Diallo's eight, making for an impressive display of power on the clay court.
Diallo's upcoming opponent will be either Italian Lorenzo Musetti (No. 10) or Australian Alex de Minaur (No. 6). Musetti eased past de Minaur in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, while Diallo hold the edge against Musetti in their previous encounters, having defeated him in the round of 16 at the Hong Kong Open in January. Diallo also bested Musetti in their subsequent meeting in the 2023 Davis Cup qualifiers.
This tournament has been a remarkable milestone in Diallo's career, marked by two significant moments. First, he qualified for the main draw despite experiencing a qualifying loss, and second, he overcame a substantial hurdle when Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from their second-round match due to injury.
On the court, Diallo exhibited strong play, outlasting Belgian Zizou Bergs, Polish Kamil Majchrzak, British Cameron Norrie, and Dimitrov. To date, Diallo has entered the Madrid Open ranked 78th in the ATP rankings, which is his career-high. His victory over Dimitrov will likely boost his ranking to No. 54, as per the live tour rankings.
- Gabriel Diallo's victory over Grigor Dimitrov in the Madrid Open marks his first entry into the quarter-finals of a Masters event, a significant achievement in his career.
- The third set of Diallo's match against Dimitrov started with a break, as Diallo capitalized on an early error to take the lead.
- In the second set, Diallo saved three match points and secured two return points to take an 8-7 advantage in the tiebreak, eventually clinching the set with an ace.
- Dimitrov, despite racking up seven aces in his last three service games, couldn't prevent Diallo from winning the match, with Diallo displaying resilience and a fortunate slice of luck.
