Gabriel Diallo might just have experienced a much-needed turning point for his 2026 season.
The Canadian knocked off No. 17 seed Andrey Rublev of Russia 6-7 (4), 7-6 (1), 6-3 on Saturday in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.
Diallo, the world No. 38, entered the tournament 1-5 on the season.
Rublev, meanwhile, reached the semifinals in three of his four tournaments this season prior to Indian Wells. However, he arrived in the U.S. only three days ago after he was stranded in Dubai with two other Russian players when American-Iran military action broke out in the Middle East.
The Desert Sun reported Rublev, Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov had to drive seven hours to Oman to get a flight to Turkiye, before eventually getting to California.
Rublev got a first-round bye as a seeded player.
Diallo’s win sets up an all-Montreal third-round battle against No. 9 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Auger-Aliassime won their only previous meeting last year in Basel, Switzerland.
Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., was scheduled to play a second-round women’s match later Saturday.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/atp/article/canadas-gabriel-diallo-upsets-andrey-rublev-at-bnp-paribas-open/