Gabriel Diallo’s reprieve in Indian Wells was short-lived as he was knocked out within the second spherical of the BNP Paribas Open on Friday night time by twentieth seed Arthur Fils of France in straight units.
The Canadian had taken benefit of moving into the principle draw as a fortunate loser, successful his first-round match on Thursday. However he was overpowered within the second spherical by Fils on Friday, who avenged his loss to Diallo on the US Open with a 6-2, 6-2 win.
Fils picked aside Diallo’s serve within the match, successful 53 per cent of the Canadian’s first serve factors and 61 per cent of seconds. The Montrealer didn’t do himself many favours, committing 28 unforced errors whereas solely putting eight winners.
The match obtained off to a tough begin for the Canadian. From deuce in his opening service sport, Diallo misplaced the subsequent 14 factors in a row. That included two breaks, together with being damaged to like in his second service sport the place he dedicated three straight unforced errors earlier than double-faulting. Even when he snapped the run in his third service sport, he needed to save a pair of break factors earlier than lastly getting on the board at 1-4.
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That maintain briefly gave the Canadian some life. Within the following sport, Fils struggled and gifted one of many breaks again, however Diallo couldn’t take benefit. A missed backhand within the following sport gave Fils a double break level opening and he fired a backhand passing shot to reclaim the double break lead which he didn’t relinquish.
Diallo began the second set stronger with a pair of holds, however errors ultimately got here again to hang-out him. At 2-2, a missed forehand put the Canadian down break level and he netted a backhand to give up the benefit.
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It was one-way visitors from there. The following time Diallo stepped as much as the road, he netted a volley to go down 15-40 and Fils drew an error with some spectacular ball placement to maneuver forward 5-2 earlier than serving out the match after simply 67 minutes.
Félix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, and Leylah Annie Fernandez all play their opening matches on Saturday. The three Canadians are all on Courtroom 6, with Auger-Aliassime kicking off the motion at 11 am native, 2 am EST, adopted by Shapovalov with Fernandez closing it down after a doubles match.
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