Alexander Zverev showcased his resilience and skill on Friday as he battled past Alejandro Tabilo to reach his third Rome final. The German, chasing his sixth Masters 1000 title, overcame a slow start to secure a hard-fought 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 victory in an engaging semi-final clash.
Tabilo, who had stunned Novak Djokovic earlier in the tournament, pushed Zverev to the limit with his drop shots and aggressive play. However, Zverev found his rhythm just in time to force a decider and ultimately seal the win.
Reflecting on his performance, Zverev admitted, “I was just hanging on in the second set. I brought my energy up. I was really just hanging on and waiting and the patience was kind of good today.”
With this win, Zverev broke his four-match losing streak in tour-level semi-finals and set up a final showdown against either Tommy Paul or Nicolas Jarry. The victory also saw him tie Boris Becker’s record for the most ATP Masters 1000 finals by a German since 1990.
Zverev’s impressive display on the court, where he made 69% of his first serves and capitalized on crucial points, has put him in contention for a significant rise in the rankings. A win in the final could see him climb to No. 4 in the ATP Live Rankings and second in the ATP Live Race To Turin.
On the other hand, Tabilo’s commendable run in Rome, where he did not drop a set until the semi-finals, has elevated him to No. 25 in the ATP Live Rankings. The Chilean, who recently claimed his first tour-level title, continues to make strides in his career and prove his potential on the big stage.