Remember the last time Taylor Fritz and Gabriel Diallo clashed? It was at Wimbledon: a five-set grass-court war where Fritz left everything on the line, carving his legacy on neutral ground in London. But this time, the battleground shifted. Under the bright lights of Toronto at the National Bank Open, the second-seeded American faced the hometown hero once more. With the crowd roaring for their last remaining hope, Fritz held firm and silenced the noise. And after the win, Taylor Fritz makes an honest crowd admission after taking out the last Canadian hope, owning the moment with raw, unfiltered truth.
Canada’s rising star Gabriel Diallo was hunting the biggest win of his young career Friday night at the National Bank Open. But the dream came to a halt at the hands of a determined Taylor Fritz. The World No. 4 made no mistake under the lights of Sobey’s Stadium, dispatching the final Canadian standing with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory in the third round. Diallo, the 23-year-old Montrealer, carried the hopes of a home crowd, but Fritz proved far too sharp.
Now boasting a 34-13 season record, the American continues to climb higher. With titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne already under his belt, Fritz is gunning to complete the full set of quarterfinal appearances across all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. And after a frustrating end to his Citi Open run just days ago, this latest win in Toronto brought more than just progress; it brought relief, rhythm, and hunger.
Speaking after the match, Fritz gave credit where it was due, not just to his own performance but to the atmosphere surrounding him. “I thought the crowd was (very) nice for me playing the last player in the tournament from Canada,” he admitted. “I thought it was going to be a little bit more hostile.” He added with a smile, “But I guess everyone is just so nice. I’ve dealt with a lot worse.”
Tennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 6, 2024 Taylor Fritz of the U.S. celebrates after winning his semi final match against Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Meanwhile, Diallo didn’t hide his disappointment. “I feel like I let a lot of people down today,” he said, his voice heavy. “Kind of let him bully me around the court a lot today and it’s not a good feeling. I think it’s disappointing that we didn’t have a guy perform a little bit deeper in the event.”
The other seeded Canadians, Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime (Rank 21st) and Richmond Hill’s Denis Shapovalov (Rank 22nd), both suffered first-round exits earlier in the week.
And with that, the Canadian chapter of Fritz’s campaign closes, and his focus sharpens on the next challenge. Eyes locked on the R16 and beyond, Fritz is hunting his second Masters title with purpose. After heartbreak in D.C., Toronto might just be where he reignites the fire.
(More to come…)
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