Diallo Breaks Drought at Indian Wells as Canadians Split Results

Summary:

• Gabriel Diallo earned his first ATP win in nearly two months, beating Mattia Bellucci in straight sets.
• Alexis Galarneau and Bianca Andreescu were knocked out, while Denis Shapovalov was set to play later.
• Marina Stakusic also exited after a tight three-set battle.

Gabriel Diallo came to Indian Wells looking for a reset, and on Wednesday, he got exactly that. The 24-year-old from Montreal managed to snap a tough stretch on the ATP Tour by defeating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the opening round.

Diallo Stayed in Control

Ranked No. 38 in the world, Diallo had lost in the first round of his previous four tournaments. Against the 94th-ranked Bellucci, he looked steadier and more confident.

He leaned on his serve throughout the match, striking 10 aces and keeping mistakes in check with just one double fault. In a tight first set that went to a tiebreak, Diallo held his nerve. From there, he stayed in control and closed it out in straight sets.

The next test will be a much bigger one. Diallo now faces 17th-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia.

Andreescu Dropped the Match to Rakhimova

It was a mixed day for the rest of the Canadian contingent. Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., lost 6-3, 6-4 to France’s Gaël Monfils in the evening session. Denis Shapovalov was scheduled to play later Wednesday against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece.

On the women’s side, Bianca Andreescu, who won the tournament in 2019, was unable to build momentum. She dropped a three-set match to Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-7 (6), 6-0, 6-1. 

Andreescu fired 12 aces but struggled with consistency, committing five double faults and winning 57% of her first-serve points.

Marina Stakusic also bowed out after a competitive match, falling 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 to Austria’s Anastasia Potapova.

For Diallo at least, the week is still alive. And after a difficult run, that alone feels significant.