Tennis

Alejandro Tabilo, the Chilean tennis star, has made a remarkable comeback at Wimbledon, overcoming a significant hurdle by defeating British player Dan Evans in the first round. Tabilo's victory marks his first Grand Slam match win of the season and his first overall since the 2022 US Open.Despite Evans' reputation as a grass-court specialist, Tabilo showcased his versatility and resilience, saving all 10 break points faced. The match was postponed on Tuesday due to poor light, but Tabilo remained focused and determined upon its resumption.Tabilo's performance at Wimbledon is a continuation of his breakout season. In 2022, he made impressive runs at the South American Golden Swing, reaching the final in Cordoba and the semifinals in Santiago. However, injuries and the rigors of the tour schedule hindered his progress.This year, Tabilo has ascended to a career-high ranking of No. 19, highlighted by a semifinal appearance in Rome and a final in Mallorca. He is the first South American since Guillermo Coria in 2004 to reach finals on hard, clay, and grass in a single season.Despite his success, Tabilo has faced setbacks. At Roland Garros, he suffered a first-round loss to qualifier Zizou Bergs due to a severe headache. The issue resurfaced at Queen's Club, but Tabilo has since managed it effectively.Tabilo has also made a coaching change, hiring Horacio Matta, who has worked with Chilean tennis legends Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu. Matta's guidance has helped Tabilo improve his organization and focus.Tabilo's victory over Evans sets up a challenging second-round match against rising Italian star Flavio Cobolli. Cobolli defeated Tabilo in Madrid earlier this year and has shown strong form on grass at Wimbledon.Tabilo remains confident and determined to continue his impressive run. His versatility, resilience, and newfound support from Matta make him a formidable opponent on any surface.

Alejandro Tabilo Makes History as First Chilean to Win Grass-Court TitleMALLORCA, Spain - Alejandro Tabilo has etched his name in Chilean tennis history by becoming the first male player from his country to win a grass-court title in the Open Era. The 25-year-old achieved this remarkable feat at the Mallorca Championships on Saturday, defeating Sebastian Ofner of Austria in straight sets.Tabilo, seeded fourth in the tournament, displayed exceptional composure and skill throughout the match. He broke Ofner's serve once in each set, while saving all three break points he faced. The Chilean's victory was a testament to his adaptability and resilience on a surface that is not typically considered favorable for players from his region.With this triumph, Tabilo will ascend five places in the ATP rankings to a career-high 19th position. This marks a significant milestone for Chilean tennis, as it is the first time in 19 years that the country will have two players ranked within the Top 20. Nicolas Jarry is the other Chilean player currently in the elite group.Tabilo's success in Mallorca is a continuation of his impressive form this season. He has already won one title in 2023, claiming the Cordoba Open in Argentina. His victory on grass is a testament to his versatility and his ability to perform at a high level on different surfaces.Following his historic triumph, Tabilo will turn his attention to Wimbledon, where he will face local favorite Daniel Evans in the first round. Ofner, meanwhile, will take on Aleksandar Vukic of Australia in his Wimbledon opener.Tabilo's victory is a source of pride for Chile and a testament to the growing strength of tennis in the country. His success is an inspiration to young players and a reminder that anything is possible with hard work and determination.

Alexander Zverev's impressive run at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia continued with a dominant 6-4, 6-3 victory over Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals. Despite a nasty spill early in the match, Zverev showcased his resilience and exceptional form.Zverev's next challenge comes in the form of Alejandro Tabilo, who has upset the likes of Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov. However, Zverev's current level of play suggests that he is a formidable opponent on clay.Statistically, Zverev holds a significant advantage over Tabilo. On clay, Zverev boasts a career record of 136-53, while Tabilo stands at 25-18. Over the past 52 weeks, Zverev's hold percentage is 86.2% and his break percentage is 28.7%, compared to Tabilo's 83.5% and 23.7%.Zverev's baseline play has been particularly impressive in Rome. His backhand remains a potent weapon, but his forehand has also shown remarkable improvement. Zverev's ability to generate topspin and depth on his forehand, as well as flatten it out when necessary, makes him a formidable opponent.Tabilo, a clay-court specialist, will need to find a way to disrupt Zverev's rhythm and exploit his weaknesses. However, Zverev's current form suggests that he is well-equipped to handle any challenges Tabilo may present.With his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros within reach, Zverev is playing with a confidence and precision that makes him a heavy favorite against Tabilo.

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.

Novak Djokovic's reign at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia came to an abrupt end on Sunday as he suffered a stunning 6-2, 6-3 defeat to Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. The world No. 1, who was playing his first match since sustaining a bizarre head injury on Friday, was outplayed by the No. 29 seed in just over an hour.Djokovic's participation in the tournament was initially in doubt after he was hit by a falling water bottle while signing autographs. However, he appeared to have recovered from the incident and even practiced on Saturday wearing a bicycle helmet.But against Tabilo, Djokovic looked a step slow and struggled to keep up with the Chilean's aggressive play. Tabilo, who is ranked No. 32 in the world, broke Djokovic's serve twice in the first set and never looked back.The second set followed a similar pattern, with Tabilo breaking Djokovic's serve early and holding on to his advantage. Djokovic had a chance to break back in the sixth game, but Tabilo responded with some strong serving and forehands to hold on.Djokovic saved two match points in the eighth game, but Tabilo eventually sealed the victory with a forehand winner. The crowd at the Campo Centrale sat in stunned silence as Djokovic's 11-match winning streak at the tournament came to an end.For Tabilo, it was the biggest win of his career and his first victory over a Top 5 player. The Chilean will now face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.Djokovic's defeat raises questions about his form and fitness ahead of the French Open, which begins on May 22. The Serbian has not won a Grand Slam title since Wimbledon in 2021 and has struggled with injuries and poor form in recent months.