Alejandro Tabilo’s season has swung from despair to resurgence, setting up a meaningful test in the US Open third round on Saturday. Twelve months ago, the Chilean arrived at a Challenger event in Guangzhou ranked No. 125 and fighting through an injury-plagued stretch. Wrist pain that began in Miami lingered as he played on; he even defeated Novak Djokovic in Monte‑Carlo before learning he had come close to a stress fracture. A torn abdominal muscle after Roland Garros and a twisted ankle in Winston‑Salem added to the setbacks.
A Journey of Resilience and Recovery
Support from those close to him, including his partner Malena De Lorenzo, helped him push through a difficult 2025 in which he had to defend points from a strong 2024 without the steady run of matches he needed. He still managed a runner-up finish in Guangzhou, then flew to Chengdu for ATP 250 qualifying. There, momentum finally turned. He battled through qualifying, defeated Lloyd Harris in a final-set tie-break to reach the main draw, and by week’s end captured the title over then‑World No. 9 Lorenzo Musetti. It was the third tour-level trophy of his career and the spark that revived his season.
Tabilo has since climbed back toward the top of the game. He made the final in Rio de Janeiro, advanced to the fourth round at Roland Garros, and scored a notable hard-court win over Ben Shelton in Washington. The run reflects a steadier, more resilient version of the 29‑year‑old, who previously rose as high as World No. 19 after two titles in 2024.
He describes himself as a relentless competitor, and that approach has carried from the training room to the match court. The Chengdu breakthrough restored belief that he could win big matches and contend with the sport’s elite, provided he stays healthy. Now, a year removed from a first‑round defeat to Alexander Zverev in New York, Tabilo enters the US Open’s second week on the line, aiming to cap an impressive turnaround with a strong finish to 2026.