As Gabriel Diallo began his first-round match on Court Rogers, Kei Nishikori spoke to the media, having just triumphed in his debut at the Omnium Banque Nationale (OBN).
With 651 matches of experience under his belt, the Japanese has seen it snow. Last May, he actually crossed paths with Diallo. It was in the first round at Roland-Garros, and the Quebecer had pushed the match, his first in a Grand Slam, to the limit of five sets.
“He can be very good. He has a good serve, a good forehand. He can still work on some things, but I’m sure he will become very good,” Nishikori said.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Kei Nishikori
I’m a little jealous, it seems like Canada always has good young people, like Shapo [Denis Shapovalov] And [Félix] Auger-Aliassime. You have a good team.
Kei Nishikori
At 34, Nishikori is not at the same point in his career as Karen Khachanov, Diallo’s opponent on Tuesday. And it showed.
Kachanov won 6-4, 6-4 in 87 minutes of play. Diallo’s first experience in the main draw in Montreal will therefore be classified as a learning moment.
PHOTO DAVID KIROUAC, USA TODAY SPORTS, PROVIDED BY REUTERS
Karen Khachanov
“I learned that he’s a very good player,” said the Quebecer. “I had my chances. The level is there. I know there’s a big difference between us in the standings, but I had my chances.”
I still have some cleaning up to do in my game, but the potential is there. The confidence I have to reach that level one day is still there.
Gabriel Diallo
Despite a more powerful serve than his opponent – Diallo reached 224 km/h, compared to 213 km/h for the Russian – he suffered two service breaks, one in each set. And that was enough to make the difference.
“There were five or ten points in my racket that escaped me. Then, he played very well in the break points and when it was time to tighten the screw, he was very solid,” analyzed the 22-year-old. Players at this level don’t give much. I gave a lot in the moments when it hurt. It’s a question of time.”
Nervousness
This match was significant for Diallo, who grew up in Villeray, “seven minutes” from the IGA stadium, he confided to The Press the day before.
PHOTO DAVID KIROUAC, USA TODAY SPORTS, PROVIDED BY REUTERS
Gabriel Diallo
So it was a chance to play in front of his family, his friends, his former coaches. Even Sam Aliassime, father of Félix Auger-Aliassime and long-time coach of Diallo, was there.
I discovered him in a park. Players like him, who I worked with, are part of my tennis family for life.
Sam Aliassime, crossed after his son’s training session, Tuesday
In addition, the duel took place on Rogers Field, which, without having the size of Central, still has an electrifying atmosphere, due to its more intimate side.
“In the first game, I was tense,” Diallo admitted. “But then I competed well. I was playing at home, in front of my family and friends. It’s normal to have a few nerves. It was my first time in the main draw at the OBN. I hope that next time, I will manage the nerves better. But it was only the first game. Once the nerves went away, I was able to produce some good tennis at times.”
“The crowd was exceptional from start to finish. I would have liked to give more. The temperature was perfect, everything was perfect for a good match. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go for the victory.”
Coming to Flushing Meadows
Khachanov did not arrive in Montreal with, to borrow the fabulous expression of his friend Daniel Baillargeon, “fire in his sails”. Khachanov had indeed lost from the start in his last four tournaments and had been beaten by his last three opponents excluded from the top 100 world. The Russian, however, found his bearings, letting his rival commit 18 unforced errors and 4 double faults.
Diallo will now try to take the experience and use it in his upcoming tournaments. He is scheduled to play in Cary, North Carolina, for a small-time Challenger tournament next week, and then expects to compete in the U.S. Open qualifiers.
“That’s the beauty of tennis,” Diallo said. “You always have a chance the following week.”