Making Colombian Tennis History: Galan’s Remarkable Journey at Wimbledon
A fatigued but overjoyed Colombian, Daniel Elahi Galan, can’t help but smile as he takes a seat at Wimbledon on Friday evening.
Just an hour before, the 27-year-old made history by defeating Mikael Ymer in a thrilling five-set match, becoming the first Colombian player to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon. Galan’s remarkable journey to the last 16 has even surprised him, considering he had only won two grass-court matches at the tour level prior to arriving at SW19 last week.
Speaking to ATPTour.com, Galan expressed his disbelief and immense pride in his achievement, saying, “I haven’t fully comprehended what I’ve just done. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I am incredibly happy and proud of myself. Right now, I’m focused on recovering from today’s match and preparing for the next one. Perhaps after the tournament, I will truly realize the magnitude of my accomplishment.”
Born in Bucaramanga, Colombia, Galan grew up playing on clay courts in his home country. It wasn’t until 2021, six years into his professional career, that he made his first appearance on grass.
Despite his limited experience on this surface, Galan has displayed remarkable comfort on the lawns of London this week. Alongside his victory over Ymer, he has also triumphed over Yoshihito Nishioka and Oscar Otte, propelling him 31 spots up to No. 54 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.
Galan’s Unprecedented Success: From Grass-Court Novice to Wimbledon’s Last 16
The key to his success, according to Galan, lies in his self-belief. He shared, “I’m starting to feel more confident in myself, and my serving has improved significantly, which has been crucial during tough moments. I believe my game suits this surface well, as it requires an attacking approach. So, I’ll keep doing that. I genuinely enjoy Wimbledon and grass courts, so I hope to continue my journey.”
Aside from tennis, Galan has a passion for cycling. Despite a few past accidents, he still enjoys riding his bike. Reflecting on this hobby, he said, “I enjoy cycling. It’s quite popular in Colombia because we’re good at it. However, due to being a professional tennis player, I try not to do it too often as it can be dangerous. I once fell and broke my hand, luckily during the time of the COVID pandemic, so I didn’t lose much time. But it was definitely a scary experience to fall and break a bone. You never know, it could have had a more significant impact on my career.”
On the court, Galan has achieved his best Grand Slam result by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon. He also reached the third round at Roland Garros in 2020 and the US Open in 2022, where he caused an upset by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round.
If Galan manages to defeat Jannik Sinner and secure his second victory against a top 10 player, he will become the first Colombian player to reach the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam.
Galan expressed his excitement for the upcoming match, saying, “It’s definitely going to be an exhilarating experience. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to play on a big court like this. It’s what we prepare for and work towards throughout our careers. I’m really looking forward to it.”
