For the first time in his career, Gabriel Diallo is through to the last 16 at a big ATP Tour event, reaching the fourth round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday with a three-set win over former Indian Wells champion Cameron Norrie.
The Canadian No. 3, who was only in the main draw thanks to his third lucky loser spot in four Masters 1000s this year, had to dig deep against the Brit and overcome the frustration of a number of missed opportunities in the first set and a half. In the end, Diallo was able to wear down the former world No. 8 to reach the fourth round with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win. The Montrealer’s previous best result at a “big event” (Masters 1000 or Grand Slam) was the third round of the 2024 US Open.
Diallo is the last Canadian standing in Madrid after Denis Shapovalov was eliminated earlier in the day.
It was a gritty performance from the Montrealer, who had 51 unforced errors to 38 winners, although he served cleaner with eight aces while Norrie had eight double faults. Both men broke twice on 14 opportunities, but Diallo did not drop serve after the opening set. In the end, the Canadian won just two more points.
What looked like it was going to be a dream start for Diallo quickly turned into a nightmare. The Canadian had three chances to break in the opening game of the match but Norrie saved all three with big serves. He then paid the price in his first service game, netting a forehand on break point to go down 0-2.
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There were plenty of chances for Diallo to get back in the opening set but nothing seemed to go his way. He was unable to get the break back despite leading love-40 on the Norrie serve in the fifth game and had a love-30 opening at 4-2, only to lose four straight points.
Norrie was also applying pressure of his own. He had four break points in the sixth game and then when Diallo served to stay in the set, he hung in as the Canadian blew a 40-15 lead and ultimately committed back-to-back errors to drop the opening set.
Again Diallo had a chance at an early break in the second set when Norrie sent a forehand long for 30-40 but just like the opening game of the match, he could not handle the Brit’s serve.
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Finally at 3-3 in the second, the Canadian was able to break through. He got another love-40 opening and this time blasted a forehand winner to secure his first break of the day.
It was hardly smooth sailing the rest of the way as Diallo had to battle hard to serve it out in the 10th game. He had to save seven break points, including one with an impressive half-volley off a huge Norrie return and one forehand winner that barely clipped the line, before even sniffing a set point. But then he finally had a look, he took advantage, sending the match to a deciding set with an ace.
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Just like the previous two sets, Diallo had no shortage of opportunities in the early stages of the decider but still could not secure the quick break. He had three break points in Norrie’s first service game and two in his second but could not convert any of them.
After saving a break point with a big serve at 2-3, Diallo was able to make his move. In the seventh game, Norrie netted a forehand to give the Canadian a break point. Diallo read the Brit’s serve perfectly, crushing a clean backhand return winner to take a 4-3 lead.
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That break proved decisive. Diallo did not have the same drama serving out the match as he did the second set, finishing it off with back-to-back big serves in the 10th game.
Diallo will now look to reach his first Masters 1000 quarter-final when he takes on 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round.
Shapovalov Ousted by de Minaur
Denis Shapovalov's campaign at the Madrid Open came to an end at the hands of a familiar foe on Tuesday as he was beaten in round three by world No. 7 Alex de Minaur in straight sets.
De Minaur has been a difficult matchup for Shapovalov throughout their careers and not even a switch to clay was able to provide a spark to the Canadian. The speedy Aussie defended his serve well and was opportunistic, claiming a 6-3, 7-6(3) win to improve his head-to-head advantage to 5-0.
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Consistency was key in this match. While Shapovalov had nearly twice as many winners, 21 to 11, he also had more unforced errors with 14 to the Aussie’s 11. While not known as a dominant server, de Minaur was incredibly efficient on this day, winning 77 per cent of his total service points and saving the lone break point he faced.
Midway through the opening set, the Aussie made the first move. At 2-2, Shapovalov double-faulted to send his service game to deuce where de Minaur used his defensive skills to create a couple of break point chances. On the second, the Canadian gave away the break with a double fault.
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Shapovalov had a chance to break right back in the following game at 30-40 but de Minaur blasted his only ace of the match to erase what proved to be the lone break point the Canadian would have all day. The sixth seed ended up breaking to love a few games later to seal the set.
Both men cruised on serve in what was a largely an uneventful second set. Neither was so much as pushed to deuce and the set ended up in a tiebreak. An early backhand wide from Shapovalov gave away a minibreak for 2-1 and with de Minaur carrying his high serving level into the breaker, it proved to be a big hole to climb out of. The Aussie did not drop a point on serve in the tiebreak, finishing it with a second minibreak off a missed Shapovalov volley.
Feature Photo : Martin Sidorjak
