Alejandro Tabilo only second player to achieve this clay court feat against Novak Djokovic - the other is not Rafael Nadal
ATPMonday, 13 May 2024 at 03:00
Alejandro
Tabilo's victory over Novak Djokovic marks only the second time the Serbian has
lost a match on clay without earning any break points in his favor, a feat that
not even Rafael Nadal accomplished.
The
only other player to defeat Nole on clay without conceding any break points was
a young Alexander Zverev, aged 20, in the final of the 2017 Rome Open. On that
occasion, the German won his first Masters 1000 trophy and entered the top 10
rankings for the first time in his career.
It was a tough defeat for Djokovic against Tabilo
The
match favored the Chilean from the start. In just 18 minutes, Tabilo was up
4-0, and in a mere 31 minutes, he closed out the first set 6-2, winning 80% of
points on his serve and 60% of points overall.
Read also
The second set followed a
similar pattern, with Tabilo securing an early break and maintaining his lead
with impeccable serving, without facing any break points against him. Another
break in the ninth game sealed the Chilean's victory with a score of 6-3, 6-3,
in what is one of Djokovic's most painful defeats on clay.
Back to the 2017 Rome Open
Novak
Djokovic entered the tournament as the second seed behind world No. 1 Andy
Murray. Despite an inconsistent season, Djokovic was in excellent form in Rome,
reaching the final without dropping a set, including convincing victories over
Juan Martin Del Potro (6-1, 6-4) and Dominic Thiem (6-1, 6-0). Therefore, he
was the clear favorite going into the final against Zverev.
On the
other hand, Zverev, recently breaking into the top 20, was the surprise package
in the final. It took him just an hour and 23 minutes to overcome Djokovic 6-4,
6-3, without facing any break points against him.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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