Toronto – Gabriel Diallo performed an hour of practice in the afternoon before the biggest game of his career, with more than 50 fans watching, many holding giant tennis balls and hats for him to sign, others recording his monster on their phones, and later they used selfies with Diallo, who laughed with them, and they smiled.
“You can beat him tomorrow!” a fan yelled, referring to Diallo’s upcoming third round tilt against American Taylor Fritz, ranked fourth in the world. Diallo glanced at the fans, then returned to baseline, and then returned to pummel and ball again.
The 23-year-old from Montreal is a lonely man in a singles draw at the National Bank Open hosted by Rogers, who will play Fritz for the second time in his career on Friday. Not only is this a rematch for the five-set heartbroken Diallo who lost to Fritz earlier this month at Wimbledon Fritz, but it is also Diallo’s second game against the top 5 players since he started a lot of sports in the sport in the last calendar year.
Diallo’s mom and dad will be in the crowd on Friday night, plus a bunch of partners and family and friends – “basically everyone,” he said, sweat soaked when he left the driving range, once he smiled, once he smiled, and signed the last signature.
No. 36 in the world, Diallo is not used to so many fans watching his train, or being seeded 27 and winning the second round of goodbye in the way he is here. But the only Canadian who won his first singles game in the NBO was enjoying the support a hometown player brought to him, excited for his first night at home midfield at home.
“I think all of us Canadians are so grateful and happy to play here, even as little things as practice,” he said as he walked around the crowd, many fans looking in his direction – six feet eight feet, holding a huge red Wilson tennis bag, he stood out.
Diallo and Canadian compatriot Alexis Galarneau lost 24 hours in the opening doubles late Thursday before having a 24-hour break with the Championship No. 2 seed Fritz at 7 p.m. ET on Friday. It was a rematch of Wimbledon’s second round, where the Canadian made what he said was “arguably” the best game of his life, when he brought the Americans to five sets.
After taking out the Diallo, the 27-year-old Fritz entered Wimbledon’s semi-finals. Last year, he broke the U.S. Open final and ATP final, with his 10 ATP titles including the 2022 1000 Masters Championship in Wells, India.
“I hope from his point of view, I mean, he’s a very consistent player,” Diallo said of Fritz. “We had a great game at Wimbledon, so I look forward to trying to replicate this level and hopefully giving myself some chance.”
This time, Diallo can give himself better fight against the fourth world. His debut for Fritz was five cars on the grass, with duration and surface still relatively new to Diallo. Friday will mark their first meeting on Diallo’s favorite surface in three of his best formats.
“These courts are really fast,” said Diallo’s coach Martin Laurendeau, who communicates with players in a mix of French and English. “He grew up in a quick court, so he favored those conditions…fast balls and fast courts. It was the best condition for him, so he really looked forward to anyone there under these conditions. He really trusted himself more than anywhere else.”
Both Diallo and Fritz are known for their big stocks – their first meeting featured up to 53 A advantages and powerful games.
“It’s going to be in sprint mode and being able to combine the shots quickly and efficiently over and over again,” Laurendo said. “That’s how Gabe will need. I think if he recreates the same level as Wimbledon, he’s there. And then you never know. That game boils down to a few points, and this game might be too.”
Diello said winning Fritz at Wimbledon has greater confidence than any other achievements he has achieved this season, including all three Grand Slams to date and winning his first ATP 250 title.
“Losing a tough game with a player like him because I’ve been in my career, it’s very rewarding. It’s nice to go back and watch some videotapes and learn a lot from everything I’ve done in the game and what I can improve,” Diallo said. “Hopefully I can adjust some things and play again.”
He regards active performance as a key. He said: “From the first point to the last point, I brought him into the five plates, so I’m going to copy the same thing more or less, and I’m looking forward to it.”
If Diallo is disappointed, please don’t count him out. His first game against Wildcard Matteo Gigante here saw his rest in the second set and then fought to grab a tiebreak, trailing 2-4 before the final 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory.
“A lot of the time this year, he’s in the game or beat the match point, or it doesn’t seem like it’s his day, but he managed to get a lot of wins very well through competition,” Laurendo said. “That’s his trademark.”
He applauds Diallo’s occasional keel practice and takes responsibility when things don’t move forward. The most prominent point of view of long-term coaches and Diallo’s physical skills are the most outstanding.
“His game is very disruptive,” Laurendo said. “His identity is to play big, to play for big abilities. His leverage is long, and when he connects, their shots are strong. He is strong, he is a great athlete, and his goal is not to participate in these arm wrestling, it is about him sabotaging opponents, not giving opponents and trying to play five or five shots under four or five.
“His game, when he plays, he doesn’t give the opponent time to actually play, which will anger them and throw them away.”
With an opponent like Fritz, it’s hard to do, but winning more opportunities with top players will only help Diallo learn to perform best in the best game. “The more people he plays, the more he will find some vacancy and the greater his chances are,” Laurendo said.
Canada’s top two players have been knocked out in this match, and Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov both felt uneasy in the opening match.
Diallo hopes it’s different because he knows it’s good for the NBO to have a lot of Canadians playing at home, and he loves to see his fellow countrymen win.
“Things have been shown,” Dirlo said. “But I will do my best to bring the flag behind me.”
