Who is Alejandro Tabilo? Five facts about Chilean tennis star

Alejandro Tabilo defeated ATP World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the third round of the 2024 Italian Open.

Alejandro Tabilo became the talk of the town after he defeated Novak Djokovic in Rome. The Chilean enjoyed a stellar campaign at the 2024 Italian Open as he reached the semi-finals of the ATP 1000 event.

Tabilo draws inspiration from his fellow left-hander Rafael Nadal, whom he considers his idol. In an interview, he disclosed that he diligently watches all of his matches and strives to emulate Nadal’s technique as much as possible.

Taking a look at the 26-year-old tennis player’s personal life, he was born on June 2, 1997, in Toronto, Canada, to Chilean parents. He possesses dual nationality and plays with a left-handed style, utilizing a two-handed backhand.

Here are five noteworthy facts about Alejandro Tabilo:

1. Turned pro at the age of 18

Alejandro Tabilo embarked on his tennis journey when he relocated to Santiago (Chile) for the first time at the age of 18. He turned professional in 2015 and debuted in the sport by representing the Chilean team at the 2020 ATP Cup.

2. Made first Grand Slam main draw appearance in 2020

His first appearance in a Grand Slam tournament was at the 2020 Australian Open, where he suffered a loss in the second round against John Isner. Nevertheless, Tabilo achieved a significant milestone by reaching a world ranking of 172 on February 3, 2020.

He also participated in other Grand Slams, including the French Open in 2021 and 2023, Wimbledon in 2022, and the US Open in 2022. Unfortunately, he was only able to progress to the second round in all of these tournaments.

3. Reached first Challenger final in 2021

In July 2021, Alejandro Tabilo reached his first Challenger final. At the 2021 Lexington Challenger final, he was defeated by Jason Kubler. On November 8, 2021, he secured his first Challenger title in Guayaquil, Ecuador and became the No. 2 singles player in Chile.

Tabilo made his top 100 debut in the world rankings by delivering an impressive performance in the semi-finals of the 2022 Chile Open, securing the 98th position.

4. Has two ATP titles

Currently, Alejandro Tabilo holds two titles, one in singles and the other in doubles. In January 2024, he clinched his first ATP Tour title in Auckland by defeating Japan’s Taro Daniel in straight sets. After winning the ATP 250, he became the first Chilean to win on a tour-level hard court since Fernando Gonzalez in 2007.

He also stood as runner-up at the ATP 250 Córdoba Open held in February 2022 and the ATP 250 Chile Open in March 2024. However, he has won the ATP 250 Chile Open in the doubles category, where he partnered with compatriot Tomás Barrios Vera.

5. Career best ranking

On May 6, 2024, Tabilo achieved his career-best ranking, positioned 32nd. His remarkable performance at the Italian Open included a stunning victory over top-seeded Novak Djokovic. Tabilo defeated Djokovic with a score of 6-2, 6-3 in just 67 minutes, causing one of the biggest upsets of the ongoing tour.

Notably, Tabilo became the first Chilean player in 17 years to defeat a world No. 1 since Fernando Gonzalez’s victory over Roger Federer at the ATP finals in 2007. This significant achievement secured Tabilo a spot to compete in Grand Slam events.

As per the live rankings provided by ATP, Alejandro Tabilo currently holds the 25th position. His impressive performance against Djokovic propelled him seven spots higher, securing his career-best ranking. However, Tabilo lost in the semi-finals of the Italian Open against Alexander Zverev.

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