Lucky loser Diallo saves 3 MPs, rallies past bloodied Dimitrov in Madrid

Gabriel Diallo’s fairytale run at the Mutua Madrid Open continued in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, when he saved three match points to claw past Grigor Dimitrov.

The Canadian lucky loser produced an inspired turnaround, capitalising on an untimely fall from Dimitrov to prevail 5-7, 7-6(7), 6-4 and reach his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final. Trailing 3/5 in the second-set tie-break, Diallo outlasted Dimitrov in a scrappy point, which left the Bulgarian tumbling to the clay.

“I honestly thought I was going home,” said Diallo. “I thought the margins were so thin. It might be the best serving performance I ever displayed in my whole life. I was lucky I got the point at 4/6 with [his] loose error, and then I was really confident at 5/6 behind my serve. Then I saved another match point… Tennis is up and down, so you just try and manage. Luckily today I managed to flip and win the match."

Diallo dials into the Elite 8 ☎️

A reminder that the lucky loser fended off three match points for a HUGE win!@MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOpen pic.twitter.com/PcTxzg2k8F

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 30, 2025

While Dimitrov dusted himself off to hold serve and set up two match points at 6/4, he was unable to convert either, and Diallo fended off a third at 7/6 before forcing a decider. Prior to their maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash, Dimitrov held a 5-0 deciding-set record in 2025, but couldn’t halt the momentum shift. He surrendered a service break in the opening game, which ultimately proved the difference.

Diallo is up 25 spots to a career-high No. 53 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week with his run to the quarter-finals, where he awaits Alex de Minaur or Lorenzo Musetti. The 23-year-old is competing as a lucky loser for the third time in his four main-draw appearances at Masters 1000 level.

It is not the first time Diallo has saved match points to advance at Masters 1000 level this year. The Canadian fended off two in the third-set tie-break before defeating Zhang Zhizhen in the first round in Indian Wells last month.

Dimitrov appeared to be in control and marching towards a 96th tour-level quarter-final when he held three match points in the tie-break. Yet the 33-year-old appeared bothered by the cuts on his left knee and right hand, for which he received treatment after dropping the set. Diallo dropped just two of 19 first-serve points in the final set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to the biggest win of his career.