Gabriel Diallo Claims Victory in First Round of US Open
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. – Gabriel Diallo, member of Kentucky Men’s Tennis from 2019-2022, made his debut in the main draw at the US Open on Tuesday evening, defeating Jaume Munar of Spain in four sets to earn his first career win in the main draw of a Grand Slam. The Canadian took down the world number 84 by a final score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Court 8 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
With the win, Diallo, slotted at 143 in the ATP rankings, will move onto the second round of the calendar’s final major and face Arthur Fils. The Frenchman Fils is seeded 24th in the tournament and advanced by defeating Learner Tien of the United States in four sets on Tuesday.
Diallo’s victory was the first for a Wildcat tennis player at a Grand Slam since the 2009 US Open, when Jesse Witten advanced to the third round before falling to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
Diallo powered his way to the breakthrough victory, serving 20 aces and hitting 64 winners. The Montreal native took the first set a break in the tenth and final game of the frame. Munar bounced back in the second, jumping out to an early advantage and holding that lead to the conclusion. With the match tied at one, Diallo secured a crucial break in the middle of the third set, and served out the set on his seventh set point. One set away from the victory, the Canadian worked his way out to a two-break lead at 3-0. Munar would work his way back into the set, breaking Diallo’s first attempt to serve out the match. However, the Wildcat responded and immediately broke back, serving out the match at 7-5 in the fourth, sealing the victory with an ace.
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.
Diallo’s second-round match against Fils will take place on Thursday, August 29, with match time and court location to be determined on Wednesday.
