It’s been a hectic 10 days for Gabriel Diallo, who has had his best moments since joining the Kentucky Wildcats’ tennis program in the fall of 2019.
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The Wildcats first caused quite a stir when they reached the NCAA Tag Team Finals for the first time in team history. Her best performance had been a four-time appearance on Sweet 16. Their dream run came to an end on Sunday when they dropped the flag to the Virginia Cavaliers.
Diallo was still on cloud nine when we came to see him in Lexington on Friday.
“We had an unforgettable experience,” he said. These are memories that will stay with me for a lifetime. It is extraordinary what we have achieved. We knew we had great potential, but we didn’t think we would make it to the final. »
The Wildcats edged out the quarterfinal favorites to secure their seat in Final 4.
“We had one of the best seasons in the history of the program, but we weren’t the favourites,” summarized the winner of the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Louis Després invitation. We beat TCU in the Quarterfinals. In the snatch we won 4:3. In the semifinals, we defeated Ohio State (fourth seed) 4-1, who had beaten us 4-0 in the regular season. »
While he struggled in his freshman year in the NCAA, the 6’5″ tall, 180-pound Montreal native now loves the NCAA team concept.
“I had trouble adjusting to my first season, he admitted, but it’s so much fun when you learn to handle the pressure. You play for something bigger than you. You play for your school and your state. »
Nice course
Diallo’s Cinderella journey continued in the singles tournament as he qualified just one game to the semifinals. After taking a 5-3 lead in the third set on Thursday, he eventually lost the tiebreak to the Tennessee Volunteers’ Adam Walton.
“My goal was to reach the round of 16 because I managed to get an All American vote in 2021,” he said. I had a fairly complicated diagram. I faced the fifth seed in my first game and the number one Virginia player in the next game who had beaten us in the tag team finals. I had a complicated table but I believed in my chances. »
Due to the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the pandemic, Diallo is qualified for two more seasons.
“I’m definitely going to play NCAA next year, but I don’t know if I’ll use my two years. My goal is to make the leap to the pros. »
Beginning June 6, Diallo will be playing Future Series tournaments in the United States and Canada.
“Apart from the scholarships we can earn, the most important thing is to get ATP points and gain experience,” said the one who trains under Sam Aliassime when he’s in Quebec. I’ll be more comfortable starting full-time with the pros. »
Easy decision
If some hesitate between the NCAA and the pro circles, Diallo didn’t bother for long.
“I wasn’t ready to play for the pros yet,” he said. I knew I was going to the NCAA and I had to find out where. I’ve made tremendous progress since coming to Lexington. Beyond the results, the coaches care about the development of the players and in my case that makes the difference. »
In Kentucky, Diallo is managed by Frenchman Cedric Kauffman, who saved three match points in a 2001 game against Peter Sampras at Roland-Garros before losing. The former Wildcats was selected to the All American from 1996 to 1998.