Elmer Moller Advances in Madrid, Could Face Sinner in Round 3

Moller beats world no. 36 Diallo, earns second-biggest career win in Madrid

Denmark’s Elmer Moller reached the Madrid Open third round after Gabriel Diallo retired with a back injury. Moller won the first set 7-5 behind a strong backhand.

Elmer Moller took down world No. 36 Gabriel Diallo 7-5, 3-3 ret. in Madrid, riding a dominant backhand. A potential third-round clash with Jannik Sinner awaits...

Elmer Moller booked a possible third-round meeting with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid after Canada’s Gabriel Diallo retired trailing 5-7, 3-3.

Elmer Moller extended his Madrid Open run on Friday and lined up a potential third-round matchup against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

Moller beat world No. 36 Gabriel Diallo after the Canadian retired with an injury early in the second set, with the Dane having taken the first set 7-5.

 

By ranking, it was the second-biggest win of Moller’s career. In 2024 he beat Alexander Bublik when the Kazakh was ranked 27th in the world.

Moller was excellent on the red clay at times, and his powerful backhand caused Diallo major problems.

 

The Canadian targeted Moller’s weaker forehand, but the Dane repeatedly found answers.

 

The 22-year-old from Aarhus started slow and was broken in his first service game. He broke back immediately, and momentum swung back and forth for the rest of the first set.

Down 4-5, Moller held serve with confidence under pressure, then broke Diallo in a lengthy game to go up 6-5.

  

Serving for the set, the Dane closed it out 7-5, his backhand again firing on all cylinders.

 

Gabriel Diablo retired at 3-3 in set 2 vs Elmer Moller.

Didn’t continue due to a back / hip injury. https://t.co/08OVXz3ALV pic.twitter.com/IG48OMGyIf

— edgeAI (@edgeAIapp) April 24, 2026

Moller carried the momentum into the second set, opening with a break of Diallo’s serve.

  

The Canadian took a medical timeout for a few minutes of treatment on his lower back. He came out playing far more aggressively and broke back.

  

But after Moller leveled at 3-3, Diallo retired from the match.

Moller will face Jannik Sinner in the next round if the Italian beats French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi in his second-round match later Friday.