Monday Digest: Diallo Into Top 100 After Almaty Final Run

Gabriel Diallo is beginning to come into his personal on the ATP Tour. 

The previous NCAA standout has been progressing since turning professional final 12 months however took a large leap ahead final week along with his greatest outcome but on the principle tour, which has launched him into the High 100 within the rankings. 

Right here’s what you must know. 

In Case You Missed It: Breakthrough for Diallo 

The final 14 months or so have seen regular progress for 23-year-old Gabriel Diallo and he hit one more milestone final week, reaching his first-career ultimate on the ATP Tour on the Almaty Open. 

Coming into the 250 occasion, Diallo had by no means gained greater than two matches in the principle draw of a tour-level occasion and had by no means even reached a quarter-final. He acquired to the ultimate eight by defeating former Masters 1000 winner Borna Coric in straight units. He then reached his first semifinal with a comeback win over second seed Alejandro Tabillo earlier than punching his ticket to his first ultimate with a straight-set win over fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo. 

Within the ultimate, he gave world No. 26 Karen Khachanov all he might deal with however utimately got here up simply brief, falling in three units. 

Because of his career-best run on tour so far, Diallo now finds himself contained in the High 100 on the ATP Tour rankings for the primary time, leaping as much as a brand new career-high of No. 87 on the earth. He additionally passes Denis Shapovalov to change into the Canadian No. 2. 

Diallo sits solely behind Félix Auger-Aliassime among the many Canadians on the ATP Tour. The Canadian No. 1 reached the quarter-finals on the ATP 250 occasion in Antwerp, which he gained in 2022, final week, falling in a third-set tiebreak to Roberto Bautista Agut. 

Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe reached the semifinals of the WTA 250 occasion in Osaka, Japan final week however withdrew previous to the match. 

What to Watch: Massive Title Defence Forward for Auger-Aliassime 

The stress is on Félix Auger-Aliassime this week in Basel, the place he’s the two-time defending champion. A robust end in Switzerland is essential for the Canadian’s rating as the five hundred factors he has to defend symbolize virtually 25 per cent of his whole rating factors. 

To be able to keep away from a large hit to his rating, and to change into simply the second participant together with Roger Federer to win three straight titles in Basel, he might need to undergo one in every of his fellow Canadians as he and Denis Shapovalov are on a quarter-final collision course. 

First, Auger-Aliassime should defeat Sebastian Baez within the first spherical adopted by both James Duckworth or Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. For his half, Shapovalov must beat Juncheng Shang in his opener after which take out both No. 2 seed Casper Ruud or Robert Bautista Agut, who beat Auger-Aliassime final week in Antwerp. 

Learn additionally: Throwback to Felix Auger-Aliassime’s Three-Title Run in October 2022

If both Canadian will get by way of to the semis, they’re projected to face No. 4 seed Holger Rune. Andrey Rublev is the highest seed and a possible finals opponent. Stefanos Tsitsipas can also be within the prime half of the draw. 

Again in Asia, the Canadians acquired off to a robust begin on Monday on the WTA 500 occasion in Tokyo, with each Bianca Andreescu and Leylah Annie Fernandez successful their first-round matches. 

Learn additionally: Revisiting Rafael Nadal’s 5 Titles on the Nationwide Financial institution Open

For Andreescu, her straight-set win over Mei Yamaguchi was her first match win for the reason that first spherical of the Olympics in July, snapping a five-match shedding streak. She may have her fingers full within the second spherical with second seed Beatriz Haddad Maia. 

Fernandez needed to battle just a little tougher in her opener, dropping the opening set however taking the second and racing forward 5-2 within the third when her opponent, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, retired. The Canadian No. 1 will play Varvara Gracheva within the second spherical with prime seed Qinwen Zheng probably looming within the quarter-finals.  

Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe are the highest seeds within the doubles. 

Beneath the Radar: Canadian Girls Clear Up in Calgary 

One other week {of professional} tennis in Alberta and extra nice outcomes for the host nation. This time it was additional south in Calgary the place Rebecca Marino gained the singles title and Kayla Cross was topped champion within the doubles. 

Click on right here to learn the total Calgary Nationwide Financial institution Challenger recap.

The ultimate nationwide championships of 2024 happened final week in Bedford, NS, with Thomas Venos, Mitch McIntyre, and Frédérique Bérubé-Perron every selecting up a pair of trophies on the Birmingham Nationwide Wheelchair Tennis Championships. 

Click on right here to learn the total Birmingham Nationals recap.

Overseas, Dasha Plekhanova got here near successful her first skilled singles title, reaching the ultimate on the W15 occasion in Huamantla, Mexico. She misplaced within the ultimate to Malaika Rapolu of the US in two tight units. 

Home ITF motion continues this week. The ITF Tour strikes east for a W75 occasion in Saguenay, QC. 9 Canadians obtained direct entry to the singles draw with two extra nonetheless alive in qualifying. 

Marino and Billie Jean King Cup teammate Marina Stakusic are each competing at a WTA 125 occasion in Tampico, Mexico this week. 

You possibly can observe the Canadians in motion each week right here.