Montreal's Gabriel Diallo, who earned entry into the Madrid Open as a lucky loser, advanced to the fourth round Tuesday with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback win over Britain's Cameron Norrie. The 22-year-old fired eight aces and broke Norrie twice in the final two sets to move on at the clay-court tournament.
Diallo, the last Canadian remaining in Madrid, earned his spot in the main draw as a replacement for Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka, who withdrew before the tournament. He has reeled off wins over Zizou Bergs, Kamil Majchrzak, and Norrie. He will next face No. 15 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in the Round of 16, his first seeded opponent at the tournament. This marks the best performance of Diallo's career at an ATP Masters 1000 event.
Earlier Tuesday, 29th-seeded Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., dropped a 6-3, 7-6 (3) decision to No. 6 Alex de Minaur of Australia. Shapovalov fired six aces but was undone by five double faults and 37 unforced errors. "He's got tremendous firepower from every part of the court, and I had to do my best to neutralize it, and not let him dictate as much as he could," said De Minaur, who improved to 5-0 against Shapovalov.
Both Diallo's and Shapovalov's matches had been postponed from Monday after a mass power outage disrupted large parts of Spain and Portugal. De Minaur will face the winner of No. 17 Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 10 Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round of the clay-court tennis event.
Power was restored at the Caja Magica tennis complex Tuesday, and the tournament resumed with a packed schedule that included second-ranked Iga Swiatek advancing to the quarterfinals. Swiatek defeated Diana Shnaider 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4 to stay on track to defend her title in the Spanish capital.
After a major blackout that prompted 22 matches to be postponed on Monday, most parts of Madrid regained power overnight. However, the Caja Magica was still without electricity early Tuesday, causing a delay in the opening of the gates for fans. Fortunately, the power came back quickly, and organizers did not have to alter the day's schedule of matches, although there was the possibility of the night session being delayed because of the high number of matches during the day.
In one of the first matches of the day, Swiatek cruised in the first set but had to save 11 of 13 break points to seal a hard-fought victory against the 13th-seeded Shnaider. Swiatek has not lost before the quarterfinals in seven tournaments this season but hasn't gone past the semifinals since Roland Garros last year. She will next face Keys, who comfortably defeated Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3. This will be Swiatek's first meeting with Keys since she lost despite having match point in the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Gabriel Diallo's journey in Madrid has been nothing short of remarkable. He has taken advantage of his second chances throughout the year, earning a spot in the main draw as a lucky loser for the third time in four 1000 events. His path to the fourth round has included victories over Zizou Bergs and Kamil Majchrzak, showcasing his resilience and skill on the clay.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Diallo as he prepares to face Dimitrov, a formidable opponent. This match will be a significant test for the young Canadian, who is eager to prove himself on such a prestigious stage.
Meanwhile, Denis Shapovalov's early exit from the tournament raises questions about his performance and consistency. After a promising start to the season, Shapovalov has struggled to find his rhythm, and this latest defeat will undoubtedly be a setback as he looks to regroup and refocus for upcoming events.
The Madrid Open continues to be a thrilling event, with top players battling it out on the clay. With Diallo's remarkable run and Swiatek's quest to defend her title, fans can expect plenty of excitement in the days to come.
As the dust settles on the first few rounds, the tournament has already seen its fair share of surprises and upsets. With power restored and matches back on track, the stage is set for more thrilling tennis action in the heart of Spain.
Stay tuned as we follow Diallo's journey and the unfolding drama of the Madrid Open, where every match could change the course of the tournament.
