Even at simply 23 years previous, in solely his second yr as an expert tennis participant, the Davis Cup already holds a particular place in Gabriel Diallo’s coronary heart.
“It’s like the primary time. I at all times have butterflies in my abdomen once I’m known as to play Davis Cup,” Diallo informed the media on Tuesday forward of the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
“It’s at all times an honour for me. For me, the most important honour in sport is to symbolize your nation, no matter sport you play. To get the decision, to placed on the colors of your nation, to play with Canada behind you, I’m wanting ahead to it.”
Diallo will probably be a member of Staff Canada for the seventh time subsequent week as a part of the Canadian squad that goals to win their second Davis Cup title in three years. The Montrealer’s first yr as a part of the crew was the world championship 2022 marketing campaign.
Ever since his first nomination on the 2022 Davis Cup Finals Group Stage, the place he made his debut in Canada’s third tie towards Serbia, Diallo has not missed a possibility to go well with up for his nation,
“This nation has carried out an infinite quantity for me in supporting me,” stated Diallo. “With out this nation, I might by no means have had the good moments I’ve had on court docket so I owe it to them to take part in crew occasions like this.”
Regardless that he was a part of the 2022 championship crew, Diallo’s actual breakthrough for the nationwide crew got here the next season. In 2023, the previous NCAA star performed the position of Canadian singles No. 1 in each tie for Staff Canada within the group stage and Ultimate 8, together with his first Prime 40 win towards Lorenzo Musetti because the Canadians upset the eventual champions Italy within the group stage. He then put the crew on his again earlier this yr, successful a pair of singles matches in his hometown to lift Canada past the Republic of Korea within the qualifying spherical.
Now he arrives in Malaga on the finish of a profession yr that noticed him qualify for his first Grand Slam at Roland-Garros, attain the third round of a major for the first time at the US Open, enter the Prime 100 of the ATP rankings, and attain his first tour-level final at the ATP 250 event in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
When requested how issues have modified during the last yr, Diallo defined, “I’m enjoying the most effective tennis of my profession. That’s a constructive. Nevertheless it additionally comes with extra accountability, extra expectations, extra strain. The extra your rating will increase, the extra folks, the nation, sponsors, even you anticipate extra of your self. I believe that’s going to be one thing I’m going to be taught to handle.”
At simply 23 years previous, Diallo has made good progress in his improvement after turning skilled in 2023. In truth, he revealed that issues he may very well be additional alongside than he anticipated to be at this stage of his profession.
“It undoubtedly got here quicker than I assumed. My coach and I knew that I might most likely play my finest tennis at 25, 26 years previous so we had been constructing round that and it got here a lot quicker. Dipping my toes within the water final yr and going and enjoying a full schedule, going all all over the world, locations I’ve by no means been earlier than, it introduced me a whole lot of expertise. I’ve been confronted with many alternative challenges final yr and this yr, completely different conditions, Grand Slams, Davis Cups, enjoying Nationwide Financial institution Open tournaments, all that added along with the truth that we relentlessly work on my sport and add stuff and grasp stuff and all of it got here collectively.”
As to what he’s doing higher now than a yr in the past, Diallo’s actual phrases had been “the whole lot of my sport,” highlighting specifically his serve, his motion, his internet sport, and his precision.
Learn additionally: Shapovalov, Diallo Look to Power Canada at Davis Cup Final 8 – Meet the Team
Now he must put that into motion in Malaga, the place he and teammate Denis Shapovalov will probably be coming in sizzling.
Diallo is lower than a month faraway from reaching his first profession ultimate in Almaty, whereas Shapovalov not too long ago ended a five-year title drought with a victory at the Belgrade Open. As the highest two Canadians on the crew within the ATP rankings, they are going to be anticipated to guide the cost for Staff Canada.
These latest outcomes may go in Canada’s favour. Diallo defined that “It at all times makes a distinction since you arrive at competitions with good emotions on the court docket. I entered the Prime 100, I reached my first ultimate. Denis received the second title of his profession. It’s necessary that we’re arriving with good emotions and good momentum. I believe it’s higher to have the momentum in your facet and now we have it with us so we’ll attempt to carry it into Malaga.”
Learn additionally: Revisiting Rafael Nadal’s Five Titles at the National Bank Open
Canada will play Germany within the quarter-finals, the identical opponent they confronted within the final eight two years in the past on their option to the title. A win might probably arrange a conflict with the hosts Spain and Rafael Nadal, who will probably be taking part in his ultimate occasion as an expert. If Nadal performs singles, there’s a excessive chance that Diallo will face the 22-time main champion.
Talking of Nadal, Diallo shared a enjoyable little tidbit that he believes he watched the highlights of Nadal’s 2012 Australian Open ultimate with Novak Djokovic greater than 25 occasions.
Viewers can watch Staff Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Ultimate 8 ties at no cost on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports activities app, and CBC Sports activities’ official YouTube channel. The ties will even be out there in French, as TVA Sports and TVA Sports Direct will probably be displaying Canada’s matchups, in addition to all semi-finals and finals. The schedule will be discovered under.
