Diallo topples Cerundolo, advances to first career ATP final – Tennis Canada

Gabriel Diallo’s week of milestones reached new heights on Saturday, as he advanced to his first career ATP final with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-2 win over Francisco Cerundolo at the Almaty Open.

The 23-year-old fired five aces, struck 17 winners, and converted all three of his break point chances, cruising to the decisive semifinal win in just 67 minutes. The win also guarantees the Montreal native a spot in the top 100 of the ATP rankings on Monday.

A day after upsetting the second seeded Alejandro Tabilo with a come-from-behind victory to reach his first-ever ATP semifinal, the Canadian came out clinical against the world No. 31 from Argentina.

Both players looked comfortable in the stages on the fast indoor surface in Kazakhstan, trading consecutive holds through the first six games of the match. Diallo found his first opening in the seventh game, and on his first break opportunity capitalized on a backhand error from the Argentine to take a 4-3 lead.

The Canadian escaped a 0-30 hole by firing a pair of aces and two unreturned first serves to consolidate his break. He would again get out of a 0-30 jam at 5-4, using his punishing serve to win four consecutive points and seal the first set in 35 minutes.  

In the second set, the Montreal native raced out of the gates, promptly breaking the fourth seed to love in the opening game. A double fault from Cerundolo would gift a second break as Diallo began to run away with the match, holding for a commanding 4-0 lead.

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The Argentinian finally snapped Diallo’s run of five consecutive games with a service hold, but with the finish line in sight, the 23-year-old stayed calm and composed.

Serving for a spot in the final, Diallo denied Cerundolo his only break point chance of the match with a backhand winner, before drawing an unforced error on match point to wrap up the straight sets win.

The Canadian, who also reached the third round of the US Open earlier this summer, guarantees a place in the top 100 of the ATP Rankings on Monday.

He advances to face the winner of Karen Khachanov and Aleksandar Vukic in the finals on Sunday.