Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo took the world by surprise when he claimed the biggest win of his career. He defeated world number one Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-3 in the third round of the Italian Open on Sunday (May 12) in a match that lasted just 67 minutes.
Djokovic has won the tournament six times, with his last title coming in 2022, but Tabilo was almost flawless on Centre Court, breaking the top seed four times while not conceding a single break point.
“It’s incredible. I came on court just looking around and soaking it all in, trying to process everything. I’m trying to wake up right now,” Tabilo, 26, said.
The victory made Tabilo — who won a Challenger Tour tournament two weeks ago — the first Chilean in 17 years to beat a world number one since Fernando Gonzalez beat Roger Federer at the ATP Finals in 2007.
The result also means Djokovic — who made a double fault on match point — has failed to reach a single final in 2024 and has played only six matches on clay in the build-up to the French Open.
The Serbian had reached the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters but a premature exit in Rome could hamper his preparations for Roland Garros where the year’s second Grand Slam begins on May 26.
Next up for Tabilo is Karen Khachanov after the Russian put away Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 6-2 6-4.
Also moving to the fourth round of the clay-court event was eighth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who defeated qualifier Terence Atmane of France 7-6 (3), 6-3 in one hour, 44 minutes.
Dimitrov will be making his fourth appearance in the fourth round but first since 2020.
Next up for Dimitrov will be 11th-seeded Taylor Fritz, who knocked out 24th-seeded Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-4 in an All-American clash.
(Reuters)
