Gabriel Diallo’s growing stature in the tennis world is hardly a case of daydreaming, instead, it’s the result of dedicated early training and discipline. And the biggest credit goes to his parents!
From the age of six, Gabriel’s parents regularly took him to matches at IGA Stadium, located near their home in Montreal’s Villeray neighborhood. When he was 11, he was practicing six afternoons a week at IGA Stadium as part of Tennis Canada’s national development program. His training also included morning sessions at Villeray Park with his mother, Iryna, a professional handball player, focusing on footwork drills.
The 22-year-old, who is quickly making a name for himself, remembers this intense training period with fondness. There was absolutely no toxicity, and he admits it never felt forced—it was actually enjoyable for him. It really shows how he was raised in a fantastic family.
Behind Gabriel Diallo’s Success: The Role of His Parents and Close-Knit Family
Gabriel Diallo is a rising star in the world of Canadian tennis, inviting curiosity from fans for not just his performance on the court, but also his unique heritage. Born on September 24, 2001, in Montreal, Canada, Gabriel belongs to a multicultural background thanks to his parents. His father, Moubassirou Diallo, comes from a remote village in Guinea, West Africa—a place so small you’d be forgiven for struggling to locate it on a map. In contrast, his mother, Iryna, hails from Ukraine. This mix of cultures gives Diallo a unique perspective on life, both on and off the court.
Diallo’s parents met in the former Soviet Union, where they were both pursuing higher education before eventually settling in Canada. His father is an engineer, and his mother, Iryna, was a professional handball player who also practiced footwork drills at Villeray Park. Talking of his family, Diallo’s maternal grandmother lives with them in Canada, while his paternal family supports him from Africa.
Moubassirou and Iryna have never left their son’s side through his tennis journey, cheering him on from the sidelines at every match. Their support and dedication were on full display on February 3, 2024, when they celebrated with him on the court after his big win at the Davis Cup qualifiers. It was an incredibly special moment for Gabriel that also showed how close-knit his family truly is.
Following his impressive victory in the second round of the US Open on August 29, Gabriel Diallo, who is fluent in Russian, took a moment to express gratitude for the support system without whom he would not be where he is today. In the post-match interview, he said,
It wasn’t easy. I knew it was going to be a tough match. Luckily I managed to stay calm, I had great support from my team, my family members and they push me when there are moments of doubts.
The 22-year-old added,
The biggest inspiration, I would say, may be from my family, you know, they push me every day to work hard. They sacrificed a lot for me to be here, so I just try to give them back as much as I can by trying as hard as I can.
Besides his family, Gabriel Diallo draws inspiration on a professional level from Canadian tennis stars Milos Raonic and Félix Auger-Aliassime. Both of these players have hugely influenced his career. Being compared to these two players is something he sees as a massive honor.
When it comes to his own performance, there’s no doubt that his career is starting to take off. He hit a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 129 on February 26 this year and was at No. 321 in doubles on January 8. During his college days, he played tennis at the University of Kentucky and dreamt of playing professionally. Additionally, he trained in swimming, gymnastics, and chess. He also studied ballet and piano while attending the University of Kentucky. Interestingly, despite his tennis success, he had alternative career plans in the stock market or banking in case his tennis aspirations did not materialize.
Standing tall at 6 feet 8 inches, he was recommended to try out basketball because of his height, but his love is, was, and always will be tennis. And now, he continues to make a big impact on the court with his right-handed play and a killer two-handed backhand. His coach, Martin Laurendeau, and his nurturing family are always there as he keeps climbing in the tennis world. The future looks bright for this talented star.
Meet Gabriel Diallo’s Girlfriend: Tennis Player Fiona Arrese Mata
Gabriel Diallo is currently in a relationship with his supportive girlfriend, Fiona Arrese Mata, a collegiate tennis player from Spain, who represented the University of Kentucky. Details about her professional career are limited, but her last recorded match took place in 2019 at the ITF/Tennis Europe level, where she lost to Nahia Berecoechea in straight sets. Mata achieved a career-high ranking of No. 810, with her most recent victory in October 2018, when she defeated Queralt Carbo in Spain.
Diallo has been quite public with his affection for Fiona, especially on Instagram. They seem to be dating for at least a couple of years, given that she frequently appears on his IG as his romantic partner as far back as 2022. Recently, in June, the tennis star posted a series of beautiful birthday pictures along with a cute caption expressing his love for her. He wrote,
Photo dump for the bday girl 👸 happy bday gangi 🤎🌝
Despite intense training and a competitive schedule, Gabriel Diallo finds time to be away from the court. He loves swimming and spending time at the beach with his girlfriend, Fiona Arrese Mata, who is also 22. They occasionally share photos capturing their quality time together, offering fans and followers a glimpse into their special moments on social media.
