Tennis

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.

Nicolas Jarry, the 21st seed, has stormed into the final of the Rome Masters 1000, becoming the first Chilean player to reach this stage in 25 years. His impressive run has included three-set victories over Tommy Paul and Stefanos Tsitsipas, the reigning Monte Carlo champion.In the semifinals, Jarry faced a stern test against Paul, the 14th seed. After winning the first set comfortably, Jarry dropped the second in a tiebreaker. However, he regrouped and broke Paul's serve in the third set to take a 4-2 lead. Paul fought back to save two break points and level the set at 4-4, but Jarry remained composed and eventually sealed the victory with a forehand winner."I was not very happy at the end of the second set," Jarry admitted. "But I tried to use that energy to push myself and focus on my tennis. That gave me the break and more confidence to continue and close the match."Jarry's success in Rome is a testament to his hard work and determination. He has now won three Top 10 victories this season, including a quarterfinal triumph over Tsitsipas. The boisterous crowd at the Foro Italico has also played a role in his success, providing him with a boost of energy and motivation."Yesterday and today were amazing," said Jarry. "I was hoping it was going to be like yesterday. Yesterday was my first day in the stadium. It was quite a shock. But I enjoy this atmosphere, I like it."In the final, Jarry will face Alexander Zverev, the 2017 Rome champion. Zverev has won his past 18 matches against left-handers and is 21-11 lifetime in tour-level finals."He's a tough, tough guy to beat," Jarry said of Zverev. "Amazing backhand, good serve. He's playing very good tennis right now."Jarry will be hoping to become the first Chilean player to win a 1000-level title since Marcelo Rios in 1999. Rios won five 1000-level titles during his career, including the 1998 Rome Masters.

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.