Gabriel Diallo, a star for Kentucky men’s tennis from 2019-2022, punched his ticket into the main draw at the 2024 French Open on Thursday, securing a spot in one of professional tennis’ four majors for the first time in his career.
Diallo, currently ranked No. 166 in the ATP Tour rankings, earned his spot through the qualifying draw, winning three, three-set matches to secure a bid to the year’s second major. The 2024 French Open is set to begin this Sunday, May 27, in Paris.
Diallo, a native of Montreal, Canada, defeated a pair of Argentinians in the first two rounds of qualifying, first upending Genaro Alberto Olivieri, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-1, before taking out Marco Trungelliti, 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4. Needing one additional victory to secure his place in the championship, Diallo went this distance yet again, coming from a set down to triumph over Alexander Ritschard of Switzerland, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Diallo becomes the first Kentucky men’s tennis product to appear in the main singles draw at a major championship since Jesse Witten played in the French Open and Wimbledon in 2010.
During his time in Lexington, Diallo was a two-time ITA All-American in singles as well as a doubles All-American selection in 2021. He was a two-time All-SEC honoree and helped the Wildcats reach the program’s first ever NCAA tournament final in 2022.
The Kentucky Wildcats and the Purdue Boilermakers announced the formation of a home-and-home series over the next two seasons, which includes Kentucky playing Purdue at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Dec. 14 and the Wildcats hosting the Boilermakers in 2025-26.
The tip time and TV designation for the upcoming season’s contest will be announced at a later date
Kentucky trails Purdue in the all-time meetings, 0-2, in a series that began in 1999. The Wildcats first dropped to the Boilermakers, 48-40, in the Boilermaker Blockbuster at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Dec. 18, 1999, before losing, 87-67, in Memorial Coliseum on Dec. 1, 2000.
The Wildcats’ associate head coach Lindsey Hicks was a player on Purdue’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2000. There, Hicks helped lead the Boilermakers to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including the national championship game in 2001. While Hicks was a student-athlete, Purdue won three Big Ten Championships and reached the Elite Eight (2003) and Sweet 16 (2004).
Kentucky learned its Southeastern Conference home-and-away opponents last week. The remaining schedule will be announced at a later date.
