Gabriel Diallo Wins First Career ATP Tour Title
‘s-HERTOGENBOSCH, the Netherlands– Former Kentucky men’s tennis great Gabriel Diallo claimed his first career ATP Tour title on Sunday, defeating Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in the final of the ATP 250 Libema Open Grass Count Championships in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands by a 7-5, 7-6(8) scoreline. The 23-year-old Canadian will now debut in the top 50 of the ATP Rankings for the first time in his career on Monday, rising to a career-high mark of No. 44.
The three-time All-American, who played in Lexington from 2020-2022, saved two match points in his second round contest against Jordan Thompson and knocked out two top 25 players in No. 24 Karen Khachanov (quarterfinals) and No. 20 Ugo Humbert (semifinals) en route to the title. In total, Diallo only dropped one set in the tournament and held serve in all but two games across the five rounds.
Competing in his second career tour-level final, Diallo was able to claim his maiden title on the backs of his big serving and performance in pressure points. In Sunday’s final, Diallo and Bergs easily held serve for the first ten games until the Canadian was the first to face break points, trailing 15-40 at 5-5. Diallo was able to rebound and save Bergs’ only two chances at a break in the match to take the 6-5, following the clutch hold with an immediate break of Bergs to claim the opening set. In the second frame, neither player faced a break point and the set went to a tiebreak, where Diallo was once again able to clutch up and save a pair of set points before ultimately claiming the trophy with a backhand crosscourt winner after an extended rally.
Diallo, who did not own a tour-level win on grass before this week, became the first Canadian in the 21st century to claim a tour-level title on grass. A rising star since his run to the third round of the 2024 US Open as a qualifier, Diallo has steadily improved his reputation, owning a 3-1 record against top 20 opponents in 2025. Other highlights of the Canadian’s year include opening round wins at the Australian Open and Roland Garros and a maiden Masters 1000 quarterfinal appearance at the Madrid Open.
Diallo is currently scheduled to continue his grass season at the Queen’s Club in London this week in leadup to The Championships, Wimbledon that will begin on June 30.
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