Musetti triumphs over Diallo in the match
Alright, mate! Let's talk about the gutter game that went down in Madrid. Bye-bye, Gabby Diallo, and hello, Lorenzo Musetti! The Italian ruin-m мартаe 23-year-old Diallo, ranked 78th in the ATP, in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open Thursday night. Musetti, ranked 11th, served up the W in an hour and a half with scores of 6-4, 6-3.
Musetti smashed down all four aces in the match, and Diallo couldn't keep up, committing 37 unforced errors compared to Musetti's 12. At the net, Gabby was average (11/24), while Musetti, well, he was on point (3/5).
Musetti's semifinal opponent will be Jack Draper from Britain. Draper leads their head-to-head record 3-0. Gabby's only break came at 4-2 in the first set, but Musetti pulled three more fast ones, including a love game at 5-4, leaving Diallo swinging and missing.
In the second set, Musetti kept the lead after breaking back to go 2-1 up. Diallo's final game was full of unforced errors, including a smash into the net at 15-15. Musetti finished it off with a win on his first match point, when Diallo hit a backhand wide. He's been acing it on his second serve this week, winning 20 out of 26 points.
Diallo's quarterfinal run in Madrid marks his first appearance in the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 event. His performance should catapult him into the top 60 of the ATP rankings. Next week, he'll be showing off his mad skills in the Italian Open in Rome.
Musetti is already on track to hit a career-high ranking, and he's won nine out of his last 10 matches. His only loss was against Carlos Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final.
Now, let me fill you in on a few/little tidbits about Gabby. His career ATP rankings have seen significant progress following the Madrid Open. Entering the tournament ranked at a career-high No. 78, he's projected to rise to No. 53 in the updated rankings[1][3], though other sources suggested a climb into the top 60 (possibly overlapping predictions)[2]. Post-Madrid, he will become Canada's third-highest-ranked player, behind Denis Shapovalov (projected No. 28) and Félix Auger-Aliassime (projected No. 27)[1].
As for his upcoming schedule, reports don't specify details. However, after his breakout Masters 1000 quarterfinal run, Diallo will likely focus on upcoming ATP events or qualifiers for major tournaments like Roland-Garros. His improved ranking could grant direct entry into future main draws, reducing reliance on qualifying rounds or lucky loser status.
Some key milestones on Diallo's resume include reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal as a lucky loser in Madrid[1][3], winning the 2024 Almaty Open (losing to Karen Khachanov)[3], and helping Canada win the 2022 Davis Cup and reach the 2023 quarterfinals[3].
For exact upcoming tournaments, keep an eye on official ATP or player social media updates – they'll have the deets not detailed in these reports.
Diallo's tennis performance in the Madrid Open quarterfinals, despite the loss against Musetti, is expected to boost his ATP rankings significantly. His improved ranking could grant direct entry into future main draws, reducing his need for qualifying rounds or lucky loser status. Despite the loss, Diallo's first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal appearance as a lucky loser in Madrid is a notable milestone in his tennis career. His upcoming schedule is yet to be specified, but it's likely he will focus on upcoming ATP events or major tournament qualifiers, such as Roland-Garros.
