Gabriel Diallo Qualifies for Main Draw at US Open
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. – Gabriel Diallo, a member of the Kentucky men’s tennis team from 2019-2022, has qualified into the main draw of the U.S. Open for the first time in his professional career, winning three qualifying matches over the span of four days at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
The Montreal, Quebec, Canada native earned the right to contest his second career match at a Grand Slam by defeating France’s Valentin Royer in straight sets on Thursday, 7-6(3), 6-4. Diallo picked up the crucial, opening set win in a tiebreaker before claiming the final three games of the second set to win the match, secure his spot in the main draw, and earn $100,000 in prize money.
The Canadian picked up a pair of comeback, three-set wins to advance to the final round of qualification, including a miraculous comeback in the second round that saw Diallo fight off two match points. On Monday, the Wildcat kicked off his run in New York by defeating Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. In Wednesday’s second round match, Diallo recovered from a set and 3-5 deficit, that included two match points on his opponent’s racquet, to defeat Titouan Droguet 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 and advance to the third and final round of the qualifying draw.
Currently ranked 144 in the ATP Rankings, 2024 has been the best year in the young Canadian’s professional career, earning a career-high ranking of 129 in February, in addition to his first two Grand Slam appearances, two Challenger Tour semifinals, and a championship at the 2024 Chicago Challenger. Diallo is also a member of Canada’s Davis Cup team, where he picked up a pair of singles wins in Canada’s victory over South Korea in January. He is slated to play with the Canadian team at the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage in September.
In his only prior main draw appearance at a major, Diallo took former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori to five sets, but ultimately fell short of his maiden main draw win at a Grand Slam. After dropping two close sets, Diallo flipped the script in sets three and four, but fell short in the decider, falling 5-7, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1, 5-7.
During his time in Lexington, Diallo was ranked as high as fourth in the ITA singles rankings, in addition to earning three All-American honors (2021 Singles, 2022 Singles and Doubles) and two All-SEC recognitions (2021 and 2022). He was a key member of Kentucky’s 2022 team that finished as runners-up in both the NCAA and SEC tournaments. His biggest moment as a Wildcat came in the national quarterfinals against No. 1 seeded TCU, as he delivered the clinching point in come-from-behind fashion.
By qualifying into Roland Garros earlier this year, Diallo became the first Kentucky men’s tennis product to appear in the main singles draw at a major championship since Jesse Witten played in the French Open and Wimbledon in 2010.
Diallo’s first round opponent, as well as the match’s date, time, and court placement, will be announced this weekend. The first round will be contested on Monday, August 26 and Tuesday, August 27, with coverage across the ESPN family of networks.
