A former Kentucky standout, qualifies…
Former Kentucky men’s tennis star Gabriel Diallo punched his ticket into the 2024 French Open main draw on Thursday, earning a position in one of the four majors for the first time in his career. Diallo played men’s tennis from 2019 to 2022.
Diallo, who is presently ranked 166th on the ATP Tour, qualified for the year’s second major by winning three three-set matches in the qualifying round. This Sunday, May 27, in Paris, is the scheduled start date of the 2024 French Open.
In the first two qualifying rounds, Montreal, Canada native Diallo overcame two Argentinians: he first defeated Genaro Alberto Olivieri, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-1, and then defeated Marco Trungelliti, 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4. Diallo, who needed to win one more match to guarantee his spot in the championship, went the distance once more, overcoming Alexander Ritschard of Switzerland 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 after trailing in the first set.
With his appearance in the main singles draw of a major championship, Diallo becomes the first male player from Kentucky to accomplish so since Jesse Witten participated in the 2010 French Open and Wimbledon.
Diallo was an ITA All-American in singles twice while he was at Lexington, and in doubles he was chosen as an All-American in 2021. He was named to the All-SEC team twice, and in 2022 he assisted the Wildcats to their first-ever NCAA tournament final.
