Australian Open: Gabriel Diallo Falls to Alexander Zverev in First Round

The opening round of the Australian Open saw Québécois player Gabriel Diallo face off against German star Alexander Zverev. Diallo, ranked 41st, lost the match with a scoreline of 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

Match Overview

Diallo started strong, quickly breaking Zverev to lead 3-1 in the first set. Despite losing that advantage, he impressively took the lead in the tiebreak by winning the first five points. However, Zverev, who previously reached the final of this major tournament, raised his game significantly.

Player Statistics

• Alexander Zverev:
  • Rank: 3rd
  • Aces: 15
  • First serve win percentage: 85%
• Gabriel Diallo:
  • Rank: 41st
  • Double faults: 5
  • Win percentage on second serve: 38%

Zverev’s Reaction

After the match, Zverev spoke about the challenge Diallo presented. “I wasn’t very happy with the draw,” he admitted. “Gabriel is young, talented, and aggressive. I knew it would be tough.” Zverev acknowledged that his performance improved after a shaky start.

Diallo’s Recent Performance

This loss adds to Diallo’s struggles in recent matches. He has not won in three of his last four matches since starting the new season, including defeats against less-ranked players. Last year, he reached the second round at the Australian Open, but his best Grand Slam result remains a third-round exit at the US Open in 2024.

Upcoming Matches

Zverev will meet the winner of the match between Australian Alexei Popyrin and French player Alexandre Muller in the second round. Meanwhile, the tournament has showcased other Canadian talents, including Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov.

Canadian Players’ Performance

Another Canadian, Liam Draxl (ranked 145th), faced off against Damir Dzumhur (ranked 66th) but lost 7-5, 6-0, 6-4. Dzumhur successfully converted seven of his twelve break points while thwarting six of Draxl’s eight break opportunities. This match marked Draxl’s debut in Grand Slam events and only his second ATP match, excluding his Davis Cup appearances.

Looking Ahead

Dzumhur, who once reached as high as 23rd in the ATP rankings, will next compete against the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo. The Australian Open continues to celebrate both established stars and emerging talent, setting the stage for exciting matches ahead.