When the Mutua Madrid Open draw was finalized 10 days ago, Gabriel Diallo’s name was nowhere to be found. After failing to qualify in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, the 23-year-old Canadian’s clay-court season appeared to be unraveling following a second-round qualifying loss in Madrid to Borna Coric.
But fate had other plans. A late withdrawal by Carlos Alcaraz opened up a spot in the main draw. As the highest-ranked player who lost in qualifying, Diallo entered the tournament as a lucky loser—and has since turned that second chance into the most impressive run of his career.
Diallo Rides Momentum to First Masters 1000 Quarter-Final
Diallo has now reached the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 event for the first time, marking a milestone in his professional journey. With wins over Cameron Norrie, Kamil Majchrzak, Zizou Bergs, and most notably Grigor Dimitrov, whom he defeated after saving three match points, the Canadian has shown grit, skill, and mental fortitude.
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“I was out of the tournament, then I got a call saying I could take someone’s spot,” Diallo said. “It kind of frees you a bit, knowing it’s a second chance. I’m super delighted with how I’ve been competing. The pieces are coming together.”
Diallo now stands just two victories away from matching Jan-Lennard Struff’s 2023 feat of reaching the Madrid final as a lucky loser—something that’s happened only once in ATP Masters 1000 history.
A Breakthrough Year for the Canadian Star
Diallo entered Madrid with a modest 6–8 season record and ranked outside the ATP Top 75. Following his four-match win streak, he is projected to rise 25 spots to World No. 53 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. His performance this week may vault him into the spotlight alongside his more established Canadian peers.
Diallo maintains close ties with fellow Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, having trained with Auger-Aliassime’s father during his junior years and winning the Davis Cup with both players in 2022.
“With Felix, we’re very close. We’ve known each other since I was 10 or 11,” Diallo said. “I haven’t spoken to him yet during this run, but maybe I’ll give him a ring—see if I can make the final too.”
Facing Musetti with Semis in Sight
Diallo now faces a stern test in Lorenzo Musetti, the rising Italian star who recently reached the Monte-Carlo final and is on track to crack the ATP Top 10 for the first time. Musetti’s clay-court prowess will pose a significant challenge, but Diallo remains focused on his own growth.
“I just keep doing me,” Diallo said. “It’s super motivating to play in big stadiums with great crowds, but at the end of the day, I am just focusing on my own progress with my team. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
A Chance to Join Canadian Tennis History
If Diallo defeats Musetti, he will join Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov as the only Canadians to have reached the Madrid semi-finals. Given his unexpected path to the quarter-finals, each additional match he plays now is a bonus—and a testament to persistence.
“It’s a reward for all the hard work I’ve put in since college and through the Challenger circuit,” Diallo said. “You dream of these events. Now that I’m here, I just want to take my chance and hold on as tightly as I can.”
Recent Masters 1000 Lucky Loser Successes
- Jan-Lennard Struff – Madrid 2023 (Finalist)
- Lucas Pouille – Rome 2016 (Semi-finalist)
- Thomas Johansson – Toronto 2004 (Semi-finalist)
Gabriel Diallo could be the next to join this elite list—and rewrite another chapter in Canadian tennis history.
