Alexander Zverev battles past inspired Alejandro Tabilo to reach third Italian Open final - ‘I was hanging on’
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Updated 17/05/2024 at 22:02 GMT
Alexander Zverev will play Nicolas Jarry in the Italian Open final as he competes for his second crown in Rome after he ended Alejandro Tabilo's inspired run. The German fought back from a 6-1 defeat in the opening set to reach the final for a third time. “I was just hanging on in the second set,” Zverev admitted after the match. Later, Jarry beat Tommy Paul to reach his first Masters 1000 final.
Watch highlights as Zverev battles past Tabilo to reach Italian Open final
Alexander Zverev came from behind to reach his third Italian Open final with a 1-6 7-6(4) 6-2 victory over 29th seed Alejandro Tabilo on Friday.
The win stamped the 2017 champion's ticket to an 11th ATP Masters 1000 final, and his first since 2022.
“I was just hanging on in the second set,” Zverev revealed after the match. “I brought my energy up and was just hanging on and waiting.
“The patience was good today, he hit me off the court in the first set and I did not play well at all, but he was a big reason why. He gave me no rhythm and I am happy I turned it around in the tie-break and ran away in the third set."
Tabilo kicked things off in the blazing Rome sun on Centre Court with a straightforward hold, and a nervy Zverev replied to get his first game on the board from deuce on his opening serve.
However, the German failed to win another game in the opener as he conceded his first set of the tournament in an electric start from the impressive Tabilo, who dispatched world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the second round.
Tabilo’s early advantage came in the fourth game when he sealed the first break on his second break point for 3-1 - the first time Zverev had been broken on his route to the last four.
In the following game, Tabilo swatted away two break points from a resurgent Zverev to extend his advantage to three games. Then, Tabilo stamped his authority on proceedings when he broke the third seed for a second time to move four games ahead.
The 26-year-old comfortably wrapped up the opener in 32 minutes on his second set point as he eyed another giant-killing in the Italian capital.
The second set was much tighter. Both players held well to begin with, and Tabilo continued his resilient form as he sped through the fourth game to love for 2-2.
The first chance for a break came in the seventh game when Tabilo earned the opportunity to break serve for the third time in the match, but Zverev fought him off.
Zverev looked on course for a break point of his own at 30-15 before Tabilo turned the game around, which left the former visibility upset as he exchanged verbal blows with the umpire over what he thought was a long ball.
However, Hawkeye confirmed that the ball was just in play as Tabilo levelled at 4-4 before Zverev quickly restored his lead with a hold to love.
Zverev piled the pressure on Tabilo when he scrambled to a 6-5 lead, but the Chilean forced a tie-break as he kept his hopes of a maiden Masters final alive.
For the first time in the match, Tabilo looked nervous. After breaking Zverev on the first point before taking a two-point lead in a positive start, he twice lost his serve as Zverev took control and eventually forced a decider.
And it seemed Tabilo’s chance had gone, as Zverev had all the momentum going into the third set and took advantage of his opponent's struggles.
Zverev broke twice as he raced into a 5-1 lead, but Tabilo held on and managed to reduce the deficit to three games with a desperate hold to love.
But the damage was already done as Zverev cruised to victory in the third set - just as Tabilo had in the opener - to book his spot in the final.
Jarry beats Paul to reach final
After his compatriot Tabilo failed in his attempt, fellow Chilean Nicolas Jarry beat Tommy Paul in the other semi-final to reach his first Masters 1000 final and will take on Zverev for the grand prize on Sunday.
Jarry and Paul could not be separated in the early stages of the opener until Jarry broke serve to take a 5-3 lead, which proved to be the decisive moment as he closed out the first set.
He broke Paul again in the second set for 3-2, but the 14th seed hit back with a break of his own to force a tie-break, which the American won to set up a thrilling decider.
After Jarry broke serve for 4-2, a spirited Paul clung on and fought off four match points in a lengthy game to stay in contention for a spot in the final.
However, Jarry’s serve was too strong and after more than 12 minutes of nail-biting action, he finally edged the match-winning game to reach his seventh Tour final - his first at this level.
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