ENTREVUE | Alejandro Tabilo : "Ici, si tu te relâches un peu, tu sors rapidement du top 100"

Fernando Murciego | 17 May 2026 | 11.54

Interview de Fernando Murciego avec Alejandro Tabilo. Source : Punto de Break.

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Alejandro Tabilo appeared this week at the Copa Faulconbridge as the top seed on the draw. His journey led him to the semifinals, gaining another valuable experience that brings him closer to his ultimate goal.

And what is that goal? We all know it; not even Alejandro Tabilo (Toronto, 1997) hides it: "Our team aims to reach the top 10," asserts the current #35 in the rankings. Accompanied in the Copa Faulconbridge by Germán Gaich and Víctor Olguín, the best Chilean on the ATP circuit found himself outside the top 100 players in the world last season, a turning point that led him to reinvent himself to return to the top ranks of the classification. Today, he competes again as always, even enjoying it more, but not settling. 'Jano' aims to take the leap to the next level. With his sights set on the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Spain, it was the right time to get to know him personally and bring this exclusive interview.

It must be a nice feeling to look at a tournament bracket and see your name at the top.

It's nice, motivating to see yourself up there in such an important tournament like a Challenger 175; it speaks well of all the good work we are doing this year. From that perspective, a few weeks ago in Aix-en-Provence, I was also at the top of the list and we were able to do well, so I'm in a good moment.

You won the title there and here you reached the semifinals. Where do you find yourself in your career right now?

I feel much more mature, more focused on what I want to do and on my goals. Today, I know much better what my game is and what my strengths are. The 2025 season was tough after dropping significantly in the rankings and suffering some injuries, so it has been gratifying to return to where I was before all that. It motivates me, pushes me to keep going; the most important thing for me is to play with confidence.

Alejandro Tabilo celebrates a point at the Copa Faulconbridge. Source: Punto de Break

Can you lose confidence during a match?

In September, you fell outside the top 120 in the world. What has been the key to this comeback?

Having faith in the process, in all the work you do with the team, in the positive emotions that the people who want the best for you bring. I am doing everything possible on and off the court; this is the key to being calm, knowing that you are giving it your all. Results eventually come, especially when you are aware of all the groundwork before the competition.

Now you're almost in the top 30; does this ranking make you happy?

Yes, it is a very good ranking, but one always wants more; I want to keep advancing. One of the goals we have as a team is to reach the top 10 someday, that would be ideal. With the year ahead, where we don't have much to defend, it presents a great opportunity. I like the ranking I have now, but I would like to continue climbing.

How many times have you been told that you are a potential top 10? How does this affect your mindset?

It motivates you more; I don't think it adds pressure. Hearing so many people who think the same way helps you believe it is possible; it makes you work harder and fight for every tournament you go to. It helps a lot to pursue that goal.

And becoming the best tennis player in your country?

That is a great joy. When I switched to playing for Chile for the first time, I never thought I would become the country's No. 1, a very nice goal. These are objectives you set for yourself as a kid; I always imagined making my debut in the Davis Cup with Chile and becoming the number one player on the team. These are dreams that you gradually fulfill.

Alejandro Tabilo celebrates a point in the 2026 season. Source: Getty

The best in all of Chile, Alejandro. This can only be said by one person in each country.

The truth is, it's incredible. You think about it more when it's gone; it happened to me when I got injured last year, that's when I began to appreciate a little more what I had at the time. When you return to the fight to regain that place, you realize that everything goes by very quickly, you don't get to enjoy it as much. The lesson from those bad moments helps me now to enjoy things more, although in Chile there is always the pressure to perform well.

Blessed pressure.

It's a pride for me to be in that situation.

In September, we have a serious Davis Cup tie between Chile and Spain. What can we expect there?

(Laughs) A nice series awaits us; I have always said that we have a tremendous team to achieve great things. We have had a bit of bad luck because every time an elimination round comes, we have a player injured or a player far from 100%. It's like we could never all connect to full, but if we all arrive well...

Team to become champions?

Team to achieve great things.

You have quite a trio.

Of course, we have players with a lot of experience like Garín and Jarry, who play well on all surfaces. Also in doubles, we can do good things, so I hope we all arrive in the best possible shape in September.

Do you communicate with each other? Do you have a relationship?

Massú follows us closely; the Davis Cup team we have is always very active; we write to each other there. Seeing the whole team for a week is always nice; the key is to be united as a team, with a captain like Nico leading who is always so involved.

The complete Chilean Davis Cup team. Source: Getty

Chile or Spain, who is the favorite?

We want to win; we will go all out.

Talking with Massú, he always conveyed to me a colossal passion for the Davis Cup. If I gave you the choice of a title you would like to win in your career, whichever you want...

Uff...

I know what Massú would say.

For me, with all the personal sacrifice we put in during the year, I would put a Grand Slam ahead. In second place, I would indeed put a Davis Cup; this would be amazing for the country […] But personally, I am honest and prioritize a Grand Slam.

Grand Slams seem reserved only for Sinner and Alcaraz. Is there such a big difference with the rest?

It's more about the confidence with which they step onto the court; I felt it a few years ago when I had to face Sinner in Montecarlo. He is a standout player; you need to be very strong mentally, not deviate for a minute, that's why he makes the match so tough. I believe no one is unbeatable; you have to have the mentality that you can beat anyone. Right now, they are being much superior to the rest, but at some point, everything can be leveled.

Are there players lacking motivation in the top 20? Are they too relaxed?

I'm not sure if they are relaxed, but maybe they can reach a certain comfort level, a mindset that being there means they don't have to do much more.

Alejandro Tabilo with German Gaich and Víctor Olguín. Source: Punto de Break

Sergi Bruguera recently told me this, although he saved Zverev.

It could be, but everyone wants to try to get there, even Zverev himself after being No. 3 for so long. We all fight to win that Grand Slam; each one approaches those matches in their way, but I want to believe that everyone works to be the best.

Have you never relaxed upon reaching the top? Giving 100% every day must be exhausting.

It has happened to me. In this sport, if you relax a bit, you quickly fall out of the top 100. It happened to me a bit these past two years when I reached the top 20; in the end, these goals make you happy and leave you calm, the body tends to relax, but it's not advisable to relax too much. Maybe it happened to me a bit, but I never completely relaxed; one always has to be there pushing to continue and stay.

Have you felt something similar to what you experienced in Rome 2024?

In terms of confidence, this year I perhaps felt something similar during the ATP 500 week in Rio. What happened to me in Rome was amazing, but the challenge was to maintain that level and consistency throughout the year. Now I'm managing it better because in 2024, I did well in that tournament and a couple more weeks, but this season, I feel much more stable. That is what I have always sought, to achieve that consistency throughout the calendar.

I'm noticing the lion tattoo you have on your arm.

These lines symbolize strength, and the lion as well, represents the idea of going after the things you want, fighting above all. I have another tattoo that refers to family. This other one symbolizes a phrase that I really like: 'Where there is a will, there is a way'. This other one says 'Create your own reality'. I have always tried to get tattoos with very personal meanings.