Gabriel Diallo was reeling, committing error after error in a match the place he clearly had the higher hand.
The Montreal native then got here out within the decisive third set, cleaned up his play and pushed Canada into the Davis Cup Finals group stage on Saturday.
Diallo defeated Seongchan Hong 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to offer Canada a 3-1 victory over South Korea within the best-of-five qualifier earlier than 1,925 followers inside IGA Stadium. The 22-year-old dedicated 53 errors within the first two units earlier than limiting himself to 11 within the third.
“I gave myself a pep speak within the rest room (between units),” Diallo half-heartedly stated about how he turned issues round. “I began to take it to him a bit bit extra. I used to be going for extra on returns.
“If I’ve an aggressive mindset and I look to dictate the rallies and take benefit as quickly as I can throughout the level, I’m going to overlook much less.”
The 2-hour, 33-minute match may have ended a lot sooner if the six-foot-eight Diallo hadn’t practically beat himself.
Diallo dominated with 36 winners to 12, however his 64 unforced errors accounted for the overwhelming majority of the five-foot-nine Hong’s 84 complete factors.
“He did an incredible job of simply snapping again into (the match) right this moment and clicking and discovering his sport once more,” Canadian captain Frank Dancevic stated. “I imply it’s spectacular. It’s not at all times straightforward to try this.”
Diallo additionally acquired Canada began Friday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Soonwoo Kwon to open the tie.
Dancevic stated that set the tone for his staff, which was lacking high gamers Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal and Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont. Former world No. 3 Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., wasn’t “100 per cent” and couldn’t play this weekend, Dancevic added.
Within the absence of star energy, the No. 132-ranked Diallo stepped as much as lead his nation.
“I feel we’ve got a variety of depth on this staff,” Dancevic stated. “Our staff seems like they will beat anyone. I actually really feel that and that’s the best way I really feel on the bench. I don’t care who’s on the opposite aspect.
“I actually actually really feel like we will beat anyone on this planet. So It’s a terrific feeling to have.”
Canada returns to motion for the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals in September at a to-be-determined location. The Finals are scheduled for November in Malaga, Spain.
Earlier Saturday, Jisung Nam and Minkyu Track edged Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C., and Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3 in a must-win doubles match to maintain South Korea alive.
Second-ranked Canada took a commanding 2-0 lead over No. 18 South Korea on Friday as Pospisil defeated Hong 6-4, 6-3 in singles after Diallo’s opening win.
“It began with Gabriel enjoying that means,” Dancevic stated. “We led 2-0 heading into (Saturday), so we had a very good likelihood.”
A fifth match between Pospisil and Kwon scheduled for later Saturday was not vital.
Hong fended off Diallo’s first three breakpoint alternatives within the opening set with stable defence — together with a superbly positioned lob over his opponent and into the backcourt whereas down 4-3.
The Montreal athlete lastly broke by on set level with an emphatic forehand winner down the road earlier than letting out an emotional cheer.
Diallo carried that momentum into the second set, changing on a 3rd breakpoint alternative to go up 2-0, however Hong broke proper again en path to taking the set.
“There have been a variety of feelings, for positive,” Dancevic stated of watching Diallo’s up-and-downs from the bench. “However I understand how he can play, I sensed this week that he was feeling the ball.
“This wasn’t a case of him trying to find his sport, so I had a variety of confidence.”
In doubles, the South Koreans held all 16 of their service video games en path to victory. Canada put simply 60 per cent of its first serves in play and dedicated 41 unforced errors to South Korea’s 31.
“They served very well, we didn’t get many alternatives,” stated Galarneau, who was enjoying in his first aggressive match this yr. “They’re doubles specialists so we had been anticipating them to play a very good match, and (there are) small particulars on my finish personally that I do know I may have been a bit bit sharper on.
“Perhaps that may have made the distinction.”
Up 1-0 within the third set, South Korea transformed on its third breakpoint alternative to go up 2-0.
Canada earned its first — and solely — breakpoint likelihood within the ensuing sport however the South Koreans fended it off with ease, forcing a deuce earlier than profitable the body.
Track, who gave the Canadians bother along with his serve all afternoon, received the match with an ace.
