The journey of Quebecer Gabriel Diallo in Madrid ended in the quarterfinals by being defeated 6-4, 6-3 by Lorenzo Musetti, 11th in the world, Thursday.
Diallo returned from the rear to surprise Grigor Dimitrov 5-7, 7-6 (7), 6-4 in the round of 16 yesterday. Currently 78th in the world, its excellent performance on Madrid earth will propel him 54th in the world.
After losing the first set, the 23-year-old was broken from the second to the second to take a possible delay of 2-0 and he was broken one last time in the service to close the match.
The Italian did not make any direct faults in the right blow and only one global during this round, against 23 for his rival. Musetti collected the four aces of the match and dominated 4-1 for the breakage. Diallo was average in the net (11 in 24), facing an opponent who was 3 in 5 in this aspect.
The only breakage succeeded by Diallo gave him the lead 4-2 in the first set. Musetti, however, played the same tour on his following two occasions, including a game to zero to lead 5-4. He won the game when Diallo sent an off -target smash.
Musetti had already beaten Diallo in the round of 16 at the Hong Kong tournament in January. Diallo won the other meeting between the two players, during the Davis Cup qualifications of 2023.
Diallo’s best course in an ATP 1000 caliber tournament was marked by two important moments. He inserted himself into the main draw despite a defeat during the qualifications and he avoided a major obstacle when the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from their second round confrontation due to an injury.
The Quebecer was however performing on the ground, beating Belgian Zizou Bergs, Pole Kamil Majchrzak, British Cameron Norrie, then Dimitrov.
Musetti will face in the semi-finals the British Jack Draper (6th), who dominated the Italian Matteo Arnaldi (44th) 6-0, 6-4.
Ruud, cenundolo and draper in half
In addition, the Norwegian Casper Ruud (15th) eliminated Russian Daniil Medvedev (10th) in the quarterfinals.
It is the first time in four games that Ruud has managed to beat Medvedev. Their last confrontation dates back to 2021.
Ruud, 26, has 123 victories on clay (35 defeats) since 2020, more than any other active player in the ATP circuit.
In the semi-finals, he will face the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (21st), who beat the Czech Jakub Mensik (23rd) in three sets 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 in 2 h 11 Thursday afternoon.
The male painting is an orphan of former winners of the tournament since the early release on Tuesday of Alexander Zverev, the release as soon as he entered the triple winner Novak Djokovic and the abandonment of the 3 World Carlos Alcaraz, who had made a double in Madrid in 2022 and 2023.
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