Even before making a name for himself on the ATP circuit, Quebecer Gabriel Diallo is part of a unique category: at 6’8″, he is one of the tallest players to have played a match there.
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It’s unclear what the future holds for the 22-year-old giant, who won his first-round match at the U.S. Open on Tuesday, but he already has a physiological advantage that few players have had over the years.
The two tallest tennis players (by height) in ATP history since these statistics were compiled were Croatian Ivo Karlovic, who at 6’11” won eight titles on the tour and reached world No. 14 in 2008, and American Reilly Opelka, still active on the tour, who reached world No. 17 in 2022.
Then came American John Isner at 6’10” and Polish Jerzy Janowicz who, although also 6’8″, was a centimetre taller than Diallo (2.04 m against 2.03 m). If he manages to establish himself as a regular, Diallo will come in fourth place in history, at 6’8″ or 2.03 m, tied with Kevin Anderson and Dick Norman.
A significant advantage
Being tall doesn’t make you good at tennis. After all, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are 6’1″, Novak Djokovic is 6’1 1⁄2″ and young sensation Carlos Alcaraz towers at 6’1″.
However, size becomes a definite advantage in terms of power, especially in service. Karlovic and Isner have made it their trademark, moreover.
The former first took the record for most career aces on the ATP Tour in 2015, before Isner surpassed it in July 2022.
The two giants still rank at the top of this category.
And without saying that Diallo should be compared to the best servers in history, let’s say that he is already showing signs of uncommon power on the circuit.
On Tuesday, in his first-round match against Spaniard Jaume Munar, he hit 20 aces and catapulted his most powerful serve to a speed of 135 mph, or just over 217 km/h.
For comparison, the fastest serve recorded by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in his first-round match on Tuesday was 133 mph. He is considered one of the best servers in the world.
The greatest players in history
Ivo Karlovic (6 Fri 11 Mon)
Photo d’archives, Martin Chevalier
Karlovic had a brilliant career spanning more than 20 years, winning eight titles and appearing in 19 finals. He reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2009. He ranks second in history for most aces (13,762) and first in career first serve percentage won (82.69%).
Reilly Opelka (6 Fri 11 Mon)
Photo Getty Images / AFP
Opelka had a meteoric start to his career, winning four titles and reaching a world ranking of No. 17 before the age of 25 in 2022. But injuries slowed his progress and he spent nearly two years away from the court. He returned to action last July after a lengthy recovery.
John Isner (6 pi 10 po)
Photo d’archives, Oscar Gonzalez/WENN
Isner made his name with the rockets he catapulted with his serve. The American has the most career aces on the ATP Tour with 14,481. He retired after the US Open last year. He won 16 singles titles and reached world ranking eight in 2018.
Jerzy Janowicz (6 pi 8 po ou 2.04 m)
Photo d’archives, Martin Chevalier
Janowicz did not have as brilliant a career as some of the other giants on this list, but still managed to make his mark on the ATP Tour during a short period between 2012 and 2014. He reached the final of the Paris-Bercy Masters in 2012, then the semi-final at Wimbledon the following year.
Kevin Anderson (6 ft 8 in or 2,03 m)
Photo d’Archives, Macguyver/WENN.com
Anderson was among the world’s top players for a time, climbing as high as fifth in the world in 2018. Physical issues slowed him down, however, and he announced his retirement in 2022 before making a competitive return the following year.
Dick Norman (6 pi 8 po 2,03 m)
Photo d’archives, Gamma-Rapho / Getty Images
Norman never climbed higher than No. 85 in singles (in 2006), then made the switch to doubles in 2009, where he enjoyed much more success, winning four titles and reaching No. 10 in the world in 2010.
Other famous giants: Aleksander Zverev (6 pi 6 po), Daniil Medvedev (6 pi 6 po), Chris Eubanks (6 pi 7 po), Matteo Berretini (6 pi 5 po), Alexei Popyrin (6 pi 5 po), Milos Raonic (6 pi 5 po).
