Latest news with #ZizouBergs
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Lloyd Harris aims for Wimbledon redemption after early French Open exit
South Africa's Lloyd Harris will face Zizou Bergs of Belgium in the Wimbledon first round on Monday as he continues his comeback from injury. Photo: AFP South Africa's top-ranked tennis player, Lloyd Harris will be hoping to make it past the first round at Wimbledon, after falling at the first hurdle at the recent French Open. The SA tennis ace, whose promising career has been blighted by injury, will face Zizou Bergs of Belgium in Monday's first round. Harris, who was the only South African in the men's singles draw of the French Open, as he is at Wimbledon, was beaten 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the first round by No15 seed Andrey Rublev at Roland Garros. Zizou is also ranked higher than him at Wimbledon, but does not have the pedigree of the South African, who reached the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2021. The former world No 31 is making his way back up the rankings after an extended absence due to injury. Wrist surgery in 2022 was followed by back surgery late last year, which derailed his progress. 'It's been tough, but for me it's all about being healthy. Every match I get being injury free is a mega win for me,' he told in the build-up to the clay court Grand Slam. Featuring in back-to-back Grand Slam main draws will be regarded as steady progress by the 28-year-old Capetonian. Harris reached the second round at Wimbledon last year, where he pushed rising US star Ben Shelton before losing in five sets. If he can come close to replicating that form, he can book a place in the second round again. Zizou will also fancy his chances of progressing, after reaching the final of the tour-level Libema Open on grass in the Netherlands recently.
CBC
27-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Rising Canadian star Gabriel Diallo aims to build on strong season at Wimbledon
Social Sharing At the start of the season, Canada's Gabriel Diallo set a goal of cracking the top 50 in the world rankings in 2025. Mission accomplished on that front and we're still in the first half of the year. Diallo earned his first career ATP Tour title this month and is currently at a career-high No. 41 in the rankings. He's hoping to build on his recent success when Wimbledon begins on Monday. "He's a guy that is really dangerous on any surface," said coach Martin Laurendeau. "He's established himself now as someone that a lot of guys, they really don't want to draw him because of his power and the fact that he's a big boy with a big game." The six-foot-eight Diallo has the power to keep opponents on their heels and the touch game to keep them guessing. His skillset was on full display at the recent 250-level tournament in 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. Diallo beat Russia's Karen Khachanov and Ugo Humbert of France — both top-25 players — to secure his spot in the final. He then beat good friend and Wimbledon doubles partner Zizou Bergs of Belgium 7-5, 7-6 (8) for the title. WATCH | Diallo captures 1st ATP title: Canada's Diallo captures 1st career ATP Tour title 12 days ago Duration 1:45 Gabriel Diallo of Montreal defeated Zizou Bergs of Belgium 7-5, 7-6 (8) Sunday at Libema Open to claim his first career ATP Tour title. The 23-year-old Montrealer jumped 11 ranking spots to No. 44 the day after the victory. "He's definitely a very explosive player," said Denis Shapovalov, one of three Canadians in the men's singles draw. "He's got a great serve and moves really well for being a big guy. "He has improved a lot over the last couple years." Diallo and Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., will be joined in the 128-player draw by Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime. Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., is in the women's singles main draw along with qualifier Carson Branstine, a California native who represents Canada through family ties in Toronto. Diallo was playing lower-level Challenger events this time last season and was eliminated in the second round of qualifying for the grass-court Grand Slam. Laurendeau said Diallo has made adjustments on the surface, using his power, finesse and improvisation skills when needed. "He can make a lot of guys look and search for their game and search for rhythm, and he's not giving any," he said in a recent interview from London. "So that's been a good way for him to go about his business." Diallo's first full season as a pro came in 2023, a year after he made his first National Bank Open appearance and Davis Cup debut. He reached a 250-level final last October when he beat two top-40 players before falling to Khachanov in three sets. Diallo made his 500-level debut last week at the HSBC Championships in London, dropping his round of 16 match to 30th-ranked Czech Jiri Lehecka. He followed that up by reaching the quarterfinals of the Mallorca Championships before falling to 34th-ranked Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands. In addition to his Grand Slam schedule, Diallo is tabbed to play events in Washington, Toronto and Cincinnati ahead of the Asian swing this fall. "A lot of things are still new and exciting," Laurendeau said. "He's fresh, he's dangerous, he has God knows how many top-50 wins already. "Once you do that, you feel like (you) can really go deep in tournaments." World No. 5 Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa leads Canadian hopes in doubles play at the All England Club. She recently returned to action with Erin Routliffe of New Zealand after missing a few weeks due to a rib issue.
National Post
15-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Canada's Gabriel Diallo wins Libema Open for first ATP Tour title
Article content 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH — Gabriel Diallo has won his first ATP Tour title. Article content The 23-year-old Montreal native defeated Belgium's Zizou Bergs 7-5, 7-6 (8) to win the Libema Open tennis tournament on Sunday. Article content Article content In what was a tight, back-and-forth second set, Diallo was down 6-4 in the tiebreaker before pulling victory from the jaws of defeat. He got three straight points from then on before eventually taking the win. Article content 'Oh man, I don't have the words. It's something that you dream of for your whole life since you were a little kid, to get an ATP Tour title,' Diallo said in his on-court interview. 'The fact that I was able to do it here after losing a final last year, it just means the world to me. Article content 'I'm very happy, not only for myself but for my whole team.' Article content Diallo had nine aces, won 76 per cent of his first-serve points and had 23 winners. He also broke on his lone opportunity, while saving his opponent's two break point chances. Article content The six-foot-eight Diallo was the first Canadian men's singles finalist in event history. He is also just the fourth Canadian to win an ATP Tour singles title this century after Milos Raonic (eight titles), Felix Auger-Aliassime (seven titles) and Denis Shapovalov (three titles). Article content
CBC
15-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canada's Gabriel Diallo wins his 1st ATP Tour title, taking Libema Open final in straight sets
Gabriel Diallo has won his first ATP Tour title. The 23-year-old Montreal native defeated Belgium's Zizou Bergs 7-5, 7-6 (8) to win the Libema Open tennis tournament on Sunday. In what was a tight, back-and-forth second set, Diallo was down 6-4 in the tiebreaker before pulling victory from the jaws of defeat. He got three straight points from then on before eventually taking the win. Diallo had nine aces, won 76 per cent of his first-serve points and had 23 winners. He also broke on his lone opportunity, while saving his opponent's two break point chances. The six-foot-eight Diallo was the first Canadian men's singles finalist in event history. Diallo, currently ranked No. 55, already guaranteed his top-50 debut on Monday by reaching the semifinals.
CBC
14-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canada's Gabriel Diallo upsets Ugo Humbert, advances to Libema Open final
Canada's Gabriel Diallo has chalked up another upset en route to the Libema Open final in the Netherlands. The 23-year-old Diallo defeated No. 2 seed Ugo Humbert of France 6-3, 7-6 (4) in Saturday's semifinal. Diallo also took out No. 3 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia in Friday's quarterfinal to advance into Saturday's match. The six-foot-eight Montreal native turned a 2-2 tie into a 5-2 edge in the tiebreaker. After Humbert made it a one-point game trying to force a third set, Diallo pulled away with two straight points to earn the win. Diallo had four aces without a double fault, while also winning 83 per cent of his first-serve points. He broke on one of his five chances while holding Humbert without a break point opportunity. Meanwhile, the Frenchman had two aces, also without a double fault, and won 66 per cent of his first-serve points. Diallo will next face Belgium's Zizou Bergs in Sunday's final. Bergs defeated American Reilly Opelka 6-1, 6-4 in the other semifinal on Saturday.
