Gabriel Diallo’s return to the Mutua Madrid Open ended in unfortunate fashion as the Canadian No. 3 was forced to retire against Danish qualifier Elmer Moller in the second round on Friday.
The 24-year-old from Montreal put Moller’s delivery to the test throughout the contest, holding nine break points, but the Dane fended off most of the pressure and saved six. Moller broke late in the opening set, one of his four in the match, to take an advantage into the second before Diallo retired at 7-5, 3-3.
The Canadian was a quarter-finalist at the event last year, reaching the last eight as a qualifier for his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.
Diallo picked up where he was last year in Madrid and got the upper hand early. After firing three unreturned serves en route to the opening hold, the Canuck piled the pressure in Moller’s first service game, breaking the Dane on his fourth break point to go 2-0 in front.
Unfazed, Moller immediately broke back then forced the loss of serve again in the seventh game. However, on this occasion, the world No. 169 was broken right back to keep the opening set balanced at 4-4.
Read also: Fernandez Powers into Madrid Round Three, Meets Jovic for First Time
The players’ stress on serve soon returned at 5-5, with Moller converting on break point in the over 12-minute game to gain the chance to serve for the set. Diallo nearly managed to extend the opener at 6-5, 30-40, but the Danish qualifier held his nerve to snatch the set.
Diallo was broken for the second-straight time to begin the second; however, trailing 1-2, the Montrealer took a medical timeout for some discomfort. The world No. 36 came out of the stoppage back to his best, breaking Moller then conceding just two of the next nine points to hold double break point at 2-3, 15-40. Unfortunately for the Canadian, the injury proved too much to deal with as Diallo was forced to retire after Moller managed to come out with the hold.
Read also: The King of Clay - Rafael Nadal’s Record-Breaking Reign on the Dirt
One more Canadian will be in action later Friday as Victoria Mboko opens her tournament against American Caty McNally.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
