By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday October 18, 2024
Gabriel Diallo is slowly becoming a fixture on the ATP Tour. This summer, the Montreal native reached the third round at the US Open – his first trip that far at a major – and has generally played brilliant tennis since his run to the Chicago Challenger title in July, posting a 27- 7 in his last 34 games. , at all levels.
On Friday, the 23-year-old upset the second Alejandro Tabilo from a set down to reach his first ATP semi-final as he claimed his second Top-25 win of the season.
Diallo’s 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win vaults him into the Top 100 of the ATP live rankings for the first time. The 6’8″ phenom moves like he’s 6’2″ but serves as big – or maybe bigger – than his height. He saved three of four break points against Tabilo and won 14 of 20 second serve points.
“I am excited. It’s been a great week so far,” he said. “I’ve been able to put some good matches together since the summer. I ended the summer with a good run at the Open and was able to continue building on that momentum.
The first semi-final of the ATP tournament ✅
Gabriel Diallo upsets two seeds Alejandro Tabilo 3-6 6-3 6-4 to reach the last 4️⃣ in Almaty#AlmatyOpen pic.twitter.com/nBzxveVeOL
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 18, 2024
“I had to dig really hard today,” the former University of Kentucky standout said. “Things weren’t looking good and I was able to turn the game around and win.”
Diallo also did well in the return, breaking once in the second set and once in the third set to pull away from the 23rd-ranked Chilean. He will face the fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo in Saturday’s semifinals.
She will face Karen Khachanove, the No. 3 seed Aleksandar Vukicwho upset the top-seeded Frances Tiafoe on friday.
