Rising Canadian tennis star Gabriel Diallo aims to build on strong season at Wimbledon
At the start of the season, Canada's Gabriel Diallo set a goal of cracking the top 50 in the world rankings in 2025.
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Mission accomplished on that front and we're still in the first half of the year.
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Diallo earned his first career ATP Tour title this month and is currently at a career-high No. 41 in the rankings. He's hoping to build on his recent success when Wimbledon begins on Monday.
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'He's a guy that is really dangerous on any surface,' said coach Martin Laurendeau. 'He's established himself now as someone that a lot of guys, they really don't want to draw him because of his power and the fact that he's a big boy with a big game.'
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The six-foot-eight Diallo has the power to keep opponents on their heels and the touch game to keep them guessing.
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His skillset was on full display at the recent 250-level tournament in 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.
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Diallo beat Russia's Karen Khachanov and Ugo Humbert of France — both top-25 players — to secure his spot in the final. He then beat good friend and Wimbledon doubles partner Zizou Bergs of Belgium 7-5, 7-6 (8) for the title.
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The 23-year-old Montrealer jumped 11 ranking spots to No. 44 the day after the victory.
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'He's definitely a very explosive player,' said Denis Shapovalov, one of three Canadians in the men's singles draw. 'He's got a great serve and moves really well for being a big guy.
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'He has improved a lot over the last couple years.'
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Diallo and Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., will be joined in the 128-player draw by Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime.
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Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., is in the women's singles main draw along with qualifier Carson Branstine, a California native who represents Canada through family ties in Toronto.
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Diallo was playing lower-level Challenger events this time last season and was eliminated in the second round of qualifying for the grass-court Grand Slam.
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Laurendeau said Diallo has made adjustments on the surface, using his power, finesse and improvisation skills when needed.
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'He can make a lot of guys look and search for their game and search for rhythm, and he's not giving any,' he said in a recent interview from London. 'So that's been a good way for him to go about his business.'
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Diallo's first full season as a pro came in 2023, a year after he made his first National Bank Open appearance and Davis Cup debut.
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