The US Open has always been about rising stars, and this year is no different. As the tournament advances into the third round, one name is starting to turn heads: Gabriel Diallo, who defeated Arthur Fils in the second round of the US Open. This budding talent is making waves with his fearless gameplay, taking on—and often outplaying—opponents ranked far above him. But who exactly is this tennis sensation who’s causing such a stir on the court? 

Born on September 24, 2001, Diallo picked up racquets when he was just 10 years old. His mother is Ukrainian and his father hails from Guinea, but interestingly, the 22-year-old represents Canada in his professional endeavor. Coached previously by Felix Auger-Aliassime’s father, Sam Aliassime, Diallo’s love for tennis started taking shape at a very young age.

He started missing school to practice tennis and compete in tournaments when he was just a teenager. Growing up, he attended the University of Kentucky, where he became the seventh player in school history to earn ITA All-American honors in singles and doubles in the same season. While this meant a lot of time away from his friends and doing things differently than children of his age, the star player didn’t have a problem with it.

Speaking in an interview with ATP Tour.com, he revealed a discussion with his parents. “They asked me how I felt about it. I thought about it, and I didn’t see it as a sacrifice, because I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed practicing and I enjoyed playing.” Diallo’s skills and determination continued to facilitate his efforts, as he started establishing himself at bigger stages of the sport.

Diallo broke into the top 500 in August 2022 and never looked back. He advanced to the top 200 in April 2023 and achieved a career-high No. 129 in February 2024. The Canadian made his tour-level debut at the 2022 Davis Cup Finals vs. Serbia. The following year, he achieved his first ATP Tour win by defeating Dan Evans at the 2023 ATP Masters 1000 Toronto in front of the home crowd. As far as the Grand Slams are concerned, the ongoing US Open is Diallo’s biggest achievement so far, where he has advanced to the third round.

Talking about Diallo’s pastimes, he loves movies and TV shows while spending time with his friends and girlfriend. The Canadian also enjoys the beach and swimming, as well as eating. He likes savoring pizza, burgers, and a nice steak. As he gears up to break into the Top 100 soon, the player is determined and believes immensely in his potential.

“My dream is really to…” Gabriel Diallo Opens up on his tennis desire

Gabriel Diallo has been making waves on the tennis courts. If he manages to outshine Tommy Paul at the US Open, he will reach the second week of the Grand Slam, thereby making a statement in the tennis corridors. His determination to use his complete potential remains intact.

In an interview with ATP Tour.com, Diallo said, “I’d say my dream is really to fulfill my full potential because obviously, people around me believe that I have a big game and that I can climb up the rankings. I also believe that I have the potential. So I just want to maximize my game and wherever that takes me, I’ll be able to sleep at night, and I’ll be extremely happy and proud of myself.”

As the tournament and the season evolves, it would be interesting to see how far can the Canadian youngster reach. But one thing is certain: Diallo’s gameplay and skills are exceptional and he has a bright future ahead of him.