The BNP Paribas Open third round will feature a battle between Canada’s Top 2 as Gabriel Diallo stunned Andrey Rublev with a tight 6-7(4), 7-6(1), 6-3 victory on Saturday.
The Canadian No. 2 set up a clash against fellow-Montrealer Félix Auger-Aliassime in round three, following Auger-Aliassime’s win over Gael Monfils on Friday.
The big-serving Diallo relied more on his return game in the lengthy contest. The 24-year-old converted over half of his break points – four of seven – but his delivery didn’t disappoint as well, winning 78 per cent of his first-serve points and finishing with 12 aces.
After kicking off the match by winning his first six service points, Diallo let 1-1, 30-love, slip to a break point against. The Montrealer committed one of his 44 unforced errors, suffering the early loss of serve.
Diallo nearly broke back in the ensuing game at 30-40, but he saved his best chance to equalize for when Rublev attempted to serve out the set. At 5-4, love-30, the Canadian unleashed a forehand winner, setting him up with triple break point which he needed just one try to convert and extend the opener.
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The world No. 38 struck first in the eventual tiebreak with an early mini-break to lead 2-0. However, Rublev strung together five-straight points to grab a 5-2 advantage, winning his next two points on serve to clinch the opening set.
Diallo frustrated the world No. 17 in the early portion of the second after turning what seemed to be a comfortable hold for Rublev at 1-1, 40-love, into some break points. The Canuck converted on the second opportunity that came his way and led 2-1.
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Rublev needed some repairs for a cut on his right hand before his search for an equalizer. His chance later came at 3-4, 30-40, and the 17th seed got the better of Diallo in the lengthy rally to level the set.
Both players then conceded just one service point en route to a second tiebreaker. With Diallo leading 3-1, the 24-year-old fired a return winner, sparking a run of four consecutive points to force a decisive set.
Just like his start to the second, Diallo was aggressive on Rublev’s second delivery, breaking from 0-1, 40-love. The Canadian saved break point in the following game at 30-40, recording three-straight unreturned serves and increasing his lead to 3-0.
Rublev stayed on Diallo’s heels and the world No. 17 finally scored the vital break in the seventh game thanks in part to three of his 34 winners on the day. However, at 3-4, 30-all, Diallo painted the baseline with a winner of his own to put the pressure on Rublev. A very fortunate net cord off the Canuck’s return secured another break and the chance to serve for the match.
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Diallo had to save break point at 5-4, 30-40, before he later held match point. Rublev managed to save two but couldn’t handle the Montrealer’s serve on the third, putting the near three-hour match to an end.
Diallo faces Auger-Aliassime for the second time in the Indian Wells third round on Sunday. The two met last season in Basel where Auger-Aliassime took the match in straight sets.
Fernandez Loses Marathon Match Against Siniakova in Second Round
Leylah Annie Fernandez was eliminated in her opening match at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, losing to world No. 44 Katerina Siniakova 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(1).
The three-and-a-half-hour match was the longest of the event so far, featuring a combined 37 break points with each player losing serve four times.
Both players would’ve been disappointed to not have scored a break midway through the opening set. Siniakova failed to convert on four break points at 3-3, while Fernandez did the same in the ensuing game.
The Canadian No. 2 then cruised on her delivery the rest of the way, not conceding a single service point. At 5-6, Fernandez piled the pressure on Siniakova again but this time, the Lavalloise capitalized on her third break point of the game, taking the opening set.
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Siniakova finally forced a loss of serve on her tenth break point which came in the first game of the second. The Czech later made it back-to-back breaks to increase her hold of the set to 3-0.
However, Fernandez dug into Siniakova’s lead. The world No. 27 led love-40 in the next game, breaking back on the third try then holding serve as she began her comeback bid, cutting the deficit to 2-3.
Fernandez completed her comeback with a break in the eighth game, tying the set at four apiece, but was immediately broken back as Siniakova ended up serving out the second.
The start of the decisive set featured more of the same. The Canadian broke in the fourth game to take a 3-1 advantage but was again unable to couple it with a hold as Siniakova broke back. At 2-3, 40-15, the Czech got back on level terms thanks to just her second ace of the evening.
The break-point frenzy went right until the end with Fernandez holding three at 3-4, but Siniakova saved all to ensure the Canuck wouldn’t get the chance to serve for the match.
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The contest passed the three-hour mark as both players would’ve been grateful not to see a break point on the way to the tiebreaker.
Siniakova had the stronger start, winning the first four points before she soon brought a 5-1 lead into the changeover. The Czech won both points on serve after the change of ends, solidifying her place into the third round in Indian Wells.
Feature Photo: Sarah-Jade Champagne
