Diallo on facing Zverev, the new coaching staff and why the ‘margins are narrowing’ | ATP Tour

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Diallo on facing Zverev, the new coaching staff and why the ‘margins are narrowing’

The Canadian speaks to ATPtour.com ahead of the season’s first major

January 17, 2026

Gabriel Diallo has never trained or competed against the World No. 3 Alexander Zverev, who has been at the top of the ATP Tour since before the Canadian was in college. But the 24-year-old is flying higher than ever and is excited to step onto the court inside the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday to defeat the two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion.

“I’m very grateful to be in this position to play at a Slam, one of the biggest courts against one of the best players in the world. So everything is a bonus,” Diallo told ATPTour.com. “We’re practicing hard and working hard to put ourselves in a position to play in those kinds of matches. We’re starting to play tennis, to play those kinds of matches. So I’m really excited and looking forward to playing.”

Last year, Zverev made the final at Melbourne Park for the first time after reaching the semi-finals on two previous occasions. The German has failed to reach the fourth round just once since 2019.

“He’s very versatile. First of all, from a backhand standpoint and from a performance standpoint, he’s been in the Top 10 for I don’t know how many years. And then, obviously in terms of his game, he’s got a great serve, a great backhand, a strong forehand,” Diallo said. “So I’ll have to create. I’ll have to take it to him if I want to give myself a chance to win. In the end, I think for me it’s another game, another learning.”

Diallo is currently learning a lot. He parted ways with longtime coach Martin Laurendeau and began working with Jonas Bjorkman and Johan Ortegren.

“I have a full delegation from Sweden now,” Diallo said, laughing. “I’m excited to see where that takes me, and I’m so grateful for the last five years I’ve had with Marty. We’ve had an incredible run since I was in college, until now. Someone who will always be very close to me and has a special place in my heart.”

While Ortegren is also a professional tennis player, Bjorkman stands out for his efforts to reach No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings and No. 1 twice.

“It’s been great. He just came to Adelaide, so it was the first time I’ve seen him there. But yeah, so far it’s been great. Learning a lot,” Diallo said. “He’s got a lot of experience and as a player, he’s been where I want to be. So it’s just a great opportunity to learn from him and work with him and I’m excited to see where it takes me.”

World No. 1 is on a good path. Last year he was ranked 86 and competing in the Australian Open major for the first time. Diallo is now one of Melbourne’s most dangerous uncapped players, fresh off a season in which he lifted the trophy in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and made the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid.

“The goal was to finish inside the Top 50, and I was able to achieve that. I had very good results. I won my first title, the big quarters at the Masters,” said Diallo. “Just like that [want to] keep building on this, carry this momentum throughout the year 2026, keep improving. We’ve flagged things that I need to improve to be able to make the next jump and the details and the margins are getting smaller and smaller, but those are the things that will make the biggest difference.”