TORONTO — Gabriel Diallo is a towering presence, which would still be true if he weren’t surrounded by children. Before the National Bank Open begins in earnest, Diallo and Canadian doubles legend Daniel Nestor are headlining the Cashmere Tennis Clinic, a seminar designed for youth tennis enthusiasts. It is a leading ATP 1000 event and the National Bank Open serves a dual purpose as an annual celebration of Canadian tennis.
Diallo is the country’s newest breakout star, boasting a blistering serve that conjures up memories of Milos Raonic.
We’ll have to wait a bit longer to get a glimpse of Diallo’s rapidly improving skill set as he’s leading a group of exuberant kids through a series of drills.