(Hong Kong) Quebecer Gabriel Diallo came from behind to defeat Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 4-6, 7-6 (4) and 7-5 on Tuesday in the first round of the Hong Kong tournament.
Posted at 10:34 a.m.
Ontarian Denis Shapovalov (56e) for his part lost 6-2 and 6-3 in 59 minutes against the Japanese Kei Nishikori (106e).
Diallo (87e) started the second set suffering a break after losing the first set. However, he responded with a break to make the score 4-4. Unable to take advantage of a set point at 6-5, he forced a decisive engagement with a point on his opponent’s service in the tiebreaker.
The 23-year-old athlete dealt a hard blow to Carballes Baena (57e) with a break that brought the score to 6-5, in the third set, then served for the victory in the next game.
Diallo hit nine aces and won 59% of the rallies with his second service ball during this long duel which lasted two hours 50 minutes.
Diallo, who won his two qualifying matches to reach the main draw, will now face Italian Lorenzo Musetti (17e), second seed in this ATP 250 tournament, in the second round.
For his part, Shapovalov suffered a break in his first service game in each set and was never able to respond.
The Canadian committed five double faults and only placed 50% of his first balls in play. He only won 58% of points with balls in hand.
