With family support, Diallo hopes to keep it going in Almaty semifinals

Ravi Ubha

Gabriel Diallo won’t soon forget this week’s Almaty Open and it’s not only because of what the Canadian has done on court.

Yes, Diallo reached a maiden ATP quarterfinal and now semifinal to move closer to the sought after Top 100 ranking benchmark. But the newly turned 23-year-old also got to meet an older family member on his mom’s side for the first time.

«Here I met my cousin that I never met in my life before,» said Diallo, who meets fourth seed Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday. «My cousin lives here in Almaty and has been coming to my matches, so it’s pretty special. And I think it’s something that helped me throughout the week.»

Diallo even intends to do some sightseeing with his cousin after his last match. 

That could still be a couple of days away, since the 6-foot-8 big server beat Alejandro Tabilo 3-6 6-3 6-4 amid Almaty’s high altitude on Friday to land in the last four.

A hip injury affected the Montrealer earlier in the year to halt the momentum garnered from the end of 2023.

But the former University of Kentucky standout said that winning the Chicago Challenger in late July without dropping a set proved pivotal in his upturn. In all matches since that Challenger began, Diallo sports a 27-7 record.

Having been as high as 103 in the rankings in September after a third round showing as a qualifier at the US Open, Diallo’s live ranking eclipsed the Top 100 immediately following victory against the Canadian-born Tabilo.

«Would be nice to keep going, keep climbing the rankings but we keep a big focus on the process for sure,» said Diallo.

It was a measured reply from the well spoken Diallo yet he admits that he does spend his share of time glancing at the rankings.

«I do, especially after last week. I had to defend points and I managed to defend a big chunk,» said Diallo, who won the Bratislava Challenger 12 months ago. «So I knew I was getting there. Before starting in Almaty I was 118, now I’m just inside (the Top 100) but there are guys behind me that are hungry, playing just as well, that are trying to make a move as well. So I got to keep focusing and doing my part.»

In his still young ATP main-draw career, Diallo achieved another personal best Friday by tallying 70% of his second-serve points against the second seed.

«It’s good for sure because you don’t want to be one dimensional to the point that if you don’t make your first serve, you know you are in big trouble,» he said.

He is the type of player that likes to celebrate career milestones without going overboard when his tournament wraps up. That might mean eating a little cake, having one beer, a glass of wine or when he is at home, enjoying poutine. 

What he has accomplished in Almaty no doubt merits a treat, even if Diallo loses Saturday. The tournament hotel might be the starting point.

«The view is insane from the hotel,» said Diallo. «We got the mountains.»

Cerundolo and Diallo have never played but practiced together Friday.

«I’m going to watch a little of him and learn how he plays,» said the Argentine. «He’s huge, he serves really well, hits the ball really hard.»

Another battle between Khachanov and Vukic?

Karen Khachanov faces Aleksandar Vukic in the second semifinal.

The 85th-ranked Vukic is attempting to engineer a fourth consecutive notable scalp in Almaty.

He began by downing fellow Australian James Duckworth — who made the final in Astana, which formerly hosted Kazakhstan’s ATP event, in 2021 —  and then upset defending champion Adrian Mannarino.

Then came his win over top-seed Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals.

Vukic and third-seed Khachanov — a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist — have split their two tussles.

Both have been close, with Vukic prevailing in a third-set tiebreak in the last one on grass in June after initially leading by a set and 5-3.

«He’s a great competitor, tough opponent also,» said Khachanov. «Has a big serve, big forehand.

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