Alejandro Tabilo Continues Dream Run in Rome, Reaches Semifinals

Alejandro Tabilo's remarkable run at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia continued on Wednesday as he advanced to the semifinals without dropping a set. The 26-year-old Chilean defeated Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 6-4, maintaining his composure throughout the 87-minute victory.

Tabilo's breakout Masters 1000 performance began with a stunning upset over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the third round. He followed that up with a victory over Karen Khachanov in the round of 16.

"I still can't believe what's happening right now," Tabilo said after his win over Zhang. "I'm just going for it and it's been helping me a lot."

Tabilo's confidence has been evident in his serve, which he held from start to finish against Zhang. "I was so confident with the serve today," he said. "It's definitely something I've been improving."

Despite his calm demeanor on the court, Tabilo admits to struggling internally. "It's just a very good poker face," he smiled. "Inside, I'm struggling. It's just like a battle there on its own."

Tabilo's success has made him the first Chilean in 15 years to reach the final four of a 1000-level tournament. Fernando Gonzalez last contested a 1000 semifinal in 2009 at the same event.

"For them, it means a lot," Tabilo said of his countrymen's support. "So many people there are supporting and sending good vibes. It's been very nice, all this new exposure."

Tabilo's journey to the semifinals has been a testament to his hard work and determination. He celebrated his first ATP title in January when he triumphed in Auckland. Now, he has a chance to contest his biggest final to date and match Gonzalez's 2007 showing.

In the semifinals, Tabilo will face the winner of Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz.

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