Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo moved closer to the US Open main draw with a gritty 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over France’s Titouan Droguet in the second round of qualifying on Wednesday. Despite hitting eight double faults, Diallo managed to save 10 of 14 break points and fought off two match points to secure the win.

Diallo, a 22-year-old Montreal native, will face Valentin Royer of France next. A victory in this match will earn him a spot in the main draw of the final Grand Slam of the year. This would be his second appearance in a Grand Slam main draw, following his earlier qualification for the French Open this year.

Meanwhile, in women’s second-round action, Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino was eliminated. Marino lost 6-4, 7-5 to Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands, ending her run in the tournament.

Diallo’s upcoming match against Royer, who is ranked 198th in the world compared to Diallo’s 144th, will determine if he advances to the main draw. With his win over Droguet, Diallo is now just one match away from achieving his goal.

The main draw of the US Open is set to begin on Monday, and Diallo is eager to secure his place among the world’s best. Despite the challenges, Diallo’s resilience and determination have put him within reach of his second Grand Slam appearance of the year.

SOURCE: TSN