Gabriel Diallo was eliminated by a familiar face at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The Canadian lost to his Wimbledon doubles partner Zizou Bergs 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(8) in the fourth round on Tuesday.
This was Bergs first win in three meetings with Diallo this year, previously facing off in the Madrid first round and ‘s-Hertogenbosch final.
Only one point separated the two players in their three setter in Shanghai, which was in favour of the Belgian. Diallo and Bergs were both broken twice in the match en route to a tight third-set tiebreak where the two of them each saved a pair of match points before the Belgian No. 1 sealed the victory.
Diallo was the best out of the gates, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a winning run of eight-straight points on serve and a break in the second game.
The Canadian No. 3 held the rest of the way as he took the opener in 35 minutes. The world No. 35 won 83 per cent of his first-serve points in the set, firing five of his ten aces in the process.
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To begin the second, Bergs looked to have the better start on this occasion. The world No. 44 broke in the second game to hold a 2-0 advantage but was broken back before Diallo held to even the set at 2-2.
Bergs saved a break point in the following game then, from 3-3, the Belgian was untroubled on serve, dropping just three points on his delivery over his next three service games.
At 5-6, the pressure was on Diallo to serve to force a tiebreak but, at 15-40, the Montrealer committed his third double fault of the day, and a decisive set was needed.
Bergs was on pace to clinching the win in quick fashion after going up 3-0 in the third but, at 1-4, Diallo won three-straight games and tied the match at 4-4. From there, the Canadian lost just one service point before the start of a dramatic finale in the tiebreak.
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The climax began when Bergs earned a mini-break to hold two match points at 6-4. Diallo managed to save both but then let two match points of his own slip away as the Canuck again found himself on the brink of elimination at 8-9. This time, Bergs executed a perfect drop shot that Diallo was unable to reach, sealing his spot in the quarter-final.
Félix Auger-Aliassime is the last Canadian remaining in Shanghai. The fellow Montrealer will play world No. 9 Lorenzo Musetti on Wednesday.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
