Former champion Alexander Zverev turned back a strong challenge from Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo to reach the final of the Italian Open on Friday. Zverev, the current world number five, dropped the first set but battled back to win 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-2. This victory marks Zverev’s first final of the year and his 11th Masters final overall, tying him with the legendary Boris Becker for the most Masters finals appearances by a German player.
A Slow Start and a Fight Back
The opening set was a forgettable one for Zverev. Tabilo, ranked 29th in the world, played aggressive tennis and capitalized on Zverev’s unforced errors. The Chilean broke Zverev’s serve twice and raced to a dominant 6-1 victory. However, Zverev showed his fighting spirit in the second set. The set went to a tiebreaker, where Zverev displayed his clutch play, winning 7-4.
Dominant Performance in the Deciding Set
Zverev carried the momentum from the tiebreaker win into the deciding set. He found his rhythm on serve and broke Tabilo’s serve twice. Zverev closed out the set comfortably with a score of 6-2, booking his spot in the Italian Open final.
Zverev Looks to Reclaim Rome Title
This victory is a significant one for Zverev. He is the 2017 champion at the Italian Open and reached the final again in 2018. Zverev will be looking to add another Rome title to his collection when he faces Nicolas Jarry in the final. Jarry, another surprise finalist, defeated Tommy Paul in straight sets in the other semi-final.
Keys to the Match
The final between Zverev and Jarry promises to be an exciting encounter. Zverev will need to serve well and limit his unforced errors, especially on his forehand. He will also need to find a way to neutralize Jarry’s powerful baseline game.
Looking Ahead
A win in the final would be a major confidence boost for Zverev as he heads into the French Open, which begins later this month. The Italian Open is considered a clay-court warmup for Roland Garros, and a strong performance in Rome could be a sign of things to come for Zverev at the French Open.