“Definitely circled that week in the calendar,”…

It has been nearly two years since Gabriel Diallo first made his mark on the ATP Tour.

Entering the main draw as a wild card at the 2023 National Bank Open in Toronto, the Montreal-native had a chance to shine against then world. No 21 Daniel Evans in the first round.

Only one year removed from his ATP debut in Montreal, Diallo stunned the 2023 Washington champion, earning the biggest win of his career up to that point.

The shock victory was Diallo’s first in an ATP main draw match, a career-defining moment for the Canadian which makes his return to Toronto this summer that much more significant.

“That week, it’s always a special time for me,” Diallo told the media ahead of Roland-Garros. “[In Toronto] getting that first tour-level win and beating a player with the caliber of Dan Evans was very special.”

Diallo lost in the following round in two tight sets against eventual runner-up Alex de Minaur, bowing out in front of a passionate home crowd.

“The atmosphere for both of my matches were cool. Really looking forward to [returning],” said Diallo.

Fast forward to 2025, the 22-year-old’s expectations will be quite different heading into the Ontarian capital.

Diallo has climbed nearly 100 spots up the ATP rankings since his maiden tour-level main draw win, reaching a career-high ranking of 53 just prior to the French Open. During his quest to crack the Top 50, the Canadian No. 3 also earned a career-best result at a big event, finishing as a quarter-finalist at this year’s Madrid Open.

However, beyond his growing expectations, Diallo is just focused on the opportunity to play in front of a Canadian crowd once again.

“To play at home, it's not something that we get a lot of as Canadians,” explained Diallo. “Maybe we get Davis Cup once or twice a year, so it's something that I don't take for granted. Definitely circled that week in the calendar.”

The 2025 National Bank Open will be the second time Diallo has played on home soil this year. The Montreal-native played in his hometown in Canada’s Davis Cup tie against Hungary in January.

The ATP's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 27 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets today!

Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak