OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 6, 2024

Gabriel Diallo

Press Conference

K. KHACHANOV/G. Diallo

6-4, 6-4

Q. Could you tell us what you learned during that match today?

GABRIEL DIALLO: I learned that he's a very good player. I had opportunities on my side. I have the level required, but I know there's a big difference in our rankings.

I know on the court I had my chances, my opportunities, but there are things to clean up in my game still. In spite of the fact that I had my opportunities, I still need to improve some things, but the potential is there.

I am confident that one day I will be able to reach that level, and I'm still confident.

Q. I was going to ask if that kind of match against a top player helps you to assess what you still need to do?

GABRIEL DIALLO: Well, as I said, I need to improve some details. There were points that I let go. Sometimes when I needed to improve my level on return games, he remained more solid than I was. There are differences there.

Players like him give away few points where I give more points away, but as I said, I really trust I will be able to reach that level someday.

Q. What did you appreciate in this game tonight?

GABRIEL DIALLO: The most thing I appreciated was the crowd. They were exceptional. They supported me. They helped me until the end.

I would have liked to give them a bit more, but today I wasn't able to do more. But everything was perfect. The temperature was perfect. Everything was there for a good match, and unfortunately, I was not able to get this victory.

Q. What was the key moment in that match that might have made it go one side or the other?

GABRIEL DIALLO: The game at 5-4 in the first set, I had some opportunities to come back in this first set, and also in the second set there was a game where I had opportunities on returning his serve.

I didn't start the match well with a bad first game. I was very nervous. At this level it's a matter of two, three points. As I said, at 5-4 and at 4-All after that I made a bad game, and I couldn't finish the match.

Q. We talked about it yesterday. You had a good streak before this match. So is this going to help you for the future in spite of this defeat?

GABRIEL DIALLO: Yes, this is the goal we had today. What is good with this sport is that if you lose one week, you have another opportunity the next week. So I still have another tournament before the U.S.

I really hope I will be able to peak at the right time at the US Open. I'm going to Cary to play.

This is what is good about tennis. You always have an opportunity the next week. So you should always keep positive, see the positive side and not get depressed. You need to prepare well for the next tournament.

Q. When you were talking about your serve, you were saying you felt very nervous.

GABRIEL DIALLO: Yes, on the first game I was very nervous. Once I tried to finish off the point, but I framed it. The first set was tense, but after that I felt I was really into the match. I was being competitive, but he played well.

Q. Is it a pressure to play at home?

GABRIEL DIALLO: Of course, playing in front of your family, your fans, your friends is always an extra pressure. I hope that next time when I will be in the same situation, I will be able to manage my nerves a bit better.

But, as I said, it was mainly during the first game. After the nerves disappeared, I was able to play good tennis at certain times.