Alejandro Tabilo Encounters Denis Shapovalov in Tokyo After Dominating Tommy Paul
Alejandro Tabilo advanced to the second round of the ATP 500 de Tokio on September 30, 2026, defeating American Tommy Paul 6-1, 6-2 at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo. The Chilean left-hander required just one hour and 13 minutes to secure his first career victory against Paul, who entered the tournament as the seventh seed and world No. 16. Tabilo, ranked No. 31, navigated a roof-covered court amid persistent rainfall in the Japanese capital to rebound from an early exit at the ATP 250 de Chengdú.
The straight-sets win halted a two-match skid against Paul from their 2024 meetings and marked Tabilo’s 15th victory in his last 19 matches played in Asia. Tabilo advances to face Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16. Shapovalov earned his spot by defeating Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro 7-5, 6-1.
Childhood Friends Meet for the First Time on the ATP Tour
The round-of-16 clash marks the first official main-tour meeting between Tabilo and Shapovalov. Despite their regular presence on the professional circuit, the two share a history dating back to their childhood in Canada, where Tabilo was born and developed a large part of his formative stage before representing Chile.
“Of everyone on the ATP tour, he is the one I know best,” Tabilo told AS in an interview. “Since we were about five years old, around there. He is one of my best friends. Once while playing the ATP Cup he joked with me and told me I should be playing with them on that side, instead of being with Chile. I know him very well, our families too. We did the whole process together, so it is nice to think about it and see that we are both still in this.”
Double Duty and Tight Scheduling in Tokyo
Tabilo’s campaign in Tokyo extends beyond the singles draw. Partnering with Frenchman Luca Van Assche, the pair claimed a 7-5, 6-4 victory over the team of American Robert Galloway and Sweden’s André Göransson in one hour and 29 minutes on the Ariake Colosseum main court. The win puts the Franco-Chilean duo into the quarterfinals of the 16-team doubles bracket.
That dual involvement creates a compressed itinerary for the Chilean. There is a tight turnaround between Tabilo’s singles assignment against Shapovalov and his subsequent doubles quarterfinal match alongside Van Assche against fifth seeds Austin Krajicek and Nikola Mektić.
Broadcast Details and How to Watch in Chile
Fans following the tournament from South America can watch the matches live through digital streaming platforms. Coverage for the ATP 500 event in Chile is broadcast via Disney+, specifically requiring subscribers to hold the platform’s Premium tier to access the live feeds.
