The Chilean Alejandro Tabilo passed over the Chinese Zhizhen Zhang this Wednesday, which he defeated in two sets (6-3 and 6-4), to reach the semifinals of the Masters 1000 in Rome, the first in a tournament of this category in his entire career.
Tabilo’s love affair with the Foro Italico is a story that, for now, seems to have no end. The Chilean did not fail in the golden opportunity that the Italian clay tournament offered to both contenders, since they had never been in the semifinals of Masters 1,000. Zhang had experience in the quarterfinals he played in Madrid in 2023 but Tabilo was making his debut. Her ceiling until now was in the round of 16.
He didn’t care much. He seemed, once again, a veteran of these rounds, a player used to fighting to get into the top four of a tournament. He dominated the Serbian Novak Djokovic, number 1 and favorite, in the third roundsigning the most important victory of his career, the one that put him on the map; In the round of 16 he successfully overcame the Russian Karen Khachanov and his forehands; and in the quarterfinals he played his role as favorite against the world number 56. His consecration tournament.
Because he did not give a single option to Zhang, who had a great time facing the new sensation on the circuit. They had not conceded a single set before the quarterfinals and will reach the semifinals with a clean score. All games 2-0.
The feeling that emanated from the beginning was one of absolute superiority, that his pulse was not going to tremble like what happened to Zhang, who faltered at key moments. The Chilean broke the Chinese’s serve to lead 4-2 in the first set‘break’ that he confirmed with his service to make it 5-2 and leave the first bid seen for sentence.
Zhang had two break balls with the score at 5-3but Tabilo was a rock and did not miss the opportunity to win the set, for which he needed only two balls.
Only 37 minutes had passed. Tabilo was one set away from remaining on cloud nine and Zhang became more nervous. He began to take its toll on the pressure, he was more docile from the service and He became frustrated with the perseverance of Tabilo, who broke in the first game to gain a key lead.
During the second set, Zhang required medical attention for problems with his left leg on two occasions, inconveniences that ended any kind of hope of a comeback against his rival, a deserved winner with a final ‘ace’ with which he sealed the best victory of his career.
Only one ATP title in his career
Winner of a single ATP tournament, 250 Aucklandalso on clay, his specialty, and with a previous best result in his career of a round of 16 at Masters 1,000, already surpassed after the feat in the Italian capital, Tabilo has earned the right to dream. For his good tennis and for his confidence.
In the semifinals a rival awaits, who will emerge from the duel between the German Alexader ‘Sascha’ Zverev and the American Taylor Fritz.
With their 6 ATP Challenger titles, number 32 in the world, who will enter the top-30 with the points updatewill play in a few weeks primer Roland Garros. In 2020, before the pandemic, Tabilo participated in his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open. For now he only thinks about Rome, his consecration tournament.
2024-05-15 15:50:00
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