In the third attempt, Djokovic defeated Tabilo in his tournament

Andrés Tomás Rico | 4 Nov 2025 | 20.22

On the third attempt, Djokovic defeated Tabilo in his tournament. Photo: Gettyimages.

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Novak Djokovic finally managed to overcome a rock named Alejandro Tabilo. The Serbian, who was making an appearance at the ATP Atenas, a tournament that belongs to his family, had a demanding debut against the Chilean. The ghosts of his two previous defeats against the South American surfaced during the first set, but he managed to resist and finish strongly with a 7-6(3), 6-1 victory, now awaiting the winner between Eliot Spizzirri or Nuno Borges.

The new home of Novak Djokovic welcomed him as if he were a local Greek. The Serbian has moved his residence to Greece, along with the tournament that is a part of his family. While in Serbia he may not be experiencing the best support, at the ATP Atenas, he was received with all the honors. However, Belgrade's own was not in a celebratory mood as he faced one of the few rivals he has yet to defeat, with a negative head-to-head record. And that opponent was Alejandro Tabilo.

Novak Djokovic once again struggled against Alejandro Tabilo but finally managed to defeat him at ATP Atenas 2025

The Chilean had beaten him in both of their previous encounters, both on clay courts. The first in the third round of the Masters 1000 in Rome 2023 and the second this year in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Montecarlo. So, the Serbian had an extra motivation to secure the victory.

As expected, nerves, inactivity, and Tabilo's game made it challenging for the Serbian to get into the match and find his rhythm, especially after squandering two break points in the first game. As the games went by, he remained unable to trouble the Chilean. Djokovic was getting irritated, and after an unforced error, he displayed his frustration with four loud shouts, confirming his discomfort.

Djokovic was not feeling at ease in Greece

Perhaps at that moment, he released his anger, nerves, and tension, finding serenity to finally break Tabilo's serve. However, the issue was that the Chilean was a rock with his serve, denying the Serbian any advantage. The first set was tied at 5-5, and any mistake could have been detrimental to either player.

Yet, both held their serves, and the initial set would be decided in a tiebreak. There, Djokovic, a master of tiebreaks, showed his best form, one that was absent throughout the first set, while Tabilo, who had been playing outstanding tennis until then, faltered, and Belgrade's representative secured a hard-earned first set victory (7-6(3)).

From the initial scare in the second set to the subsequent stroll

Djokovic clenched his fist after a tough first set, but the extra effort he put in to win it took a toll at the start of the second set. The Serbian began showing signs of fatigue and muscular discomfort, similar to what he showed at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai. Nonetheless, he saves a break point with a trademark parallel forehand to avoid an early break that would have been damaging.

Having averted the danger, the primary goal now was to close out the match quickly to prevent further strain on his physique, which could raise uncertainties about his participation in the ATP Finals, still in doubt. Therefore, he got down to business, and in the fourth game, he had his first break opportunities since the opening game of the match. This time, he converted on the first chance and went on to establish a 4-1 lead.

Djokovic wasn't the only one feeling the strain; Tabilo's game dropped, and he was no longer as resilient and assured. He rushed and his serve didn't inflict as much damage. The prevailing feeling was that the Serbian had managed to survive the South American's trap, and all that was left to do was to seal the match.

True to form, if he couldn't break the Chilean's serve in the first set, he did it twice in the second to secure a victory (7-6(3), 6-1), as he progressed from strength to strength, despite his physical struggles. Nonetheless, Novak Djokovic starts off well in his tournament at his new abode.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, A la tercera, Djokovic pudo con Tabilo en su torneo