Gabriel Diallo cruised on to the third round at the Rolex Shanghai Masters after the No. 31 seed defeated world No. 48 Benjamin Bonzi 6-4, 6-4 on Friday.
Diallo was virtually automatic on his delivery throughout the match. The Montrealer won 91 per cent of his first-serve points and did not face a single break point. On return, Diallo tallied four break points and broke twice, one in each set, which was all he needed to secure the win in just under 90 minutes.
The Canadian No. 3’s first break came in the opening game. At 15-40, Diallo converted on the first try to take advantage of the set just five minutes into the match.
From there, Diallo’s serve was too much for Bonzi to handle. The Canadian lost just two points on serve over his first two service games, while firing two of his seven aces in the contest to lead 3-1.
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In the sixth game, Bonzi’s best chance at a break point came at 15-30 but, partly thanks to a pair of winners, Diallo still held comfortably to maintain his lead, 4-2.
Serving for the opener at 5-4, the Montrealer capped off his strong-serving set with a love hold, adding three winners to his tally in the process.
Diallo had to wait a bit longer for his second-set break. The Canuck put Bonzi under some slight pressure in the third game, forcing two deuces but the Frenchman was able to hold in over nine minutes.
At 3-3, 15-30, Diallo’s break opportunity finally came after a forehand winner set the world No. 35 up with double break point. Diallo broke on the second try, then a love hold put the Canadian one game away from the third round in Shanghai at 5-3.
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Diallo wrapped up the match at 5-4, 30-15, with two-straight unreturned serves to secure his spot into the last 32. The 24-year-old lost just one of his 15 first-serve points in the second set.
The Canadian No. 3 will meet Belgian David Goffin for the first time in an ATP main draw in the next round on Sunday.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
