Mallorca Open: Tabilo knocks out Gael Monfils to reach final

Alejandro Tabilo, the No 4 seed, edged out Gael Monfils, the No 6 seed, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3) to reach the final of the Mallorca Open.

It is the third ATP final of the Chilean’s season, having won the ASB Classic at the turn of the year before reaching the final of the Chile Open the following month.

All three finals have come on different surfaces, displaying Tabilo’s ability to play on hard, clay and now grass courts in what has been a breakthrough season for him.

Tour veteran Monfils started brightly, breaking twice en route to a one-set lead. But Tabilo then turned the tables in the second stanza, reversing the scoreline to break twice and win the second. With the match perfectly poised, both players tightened up their service games to take the decider into a tiebreak.

It was the Chilean who prevailed, taking advantage of some loose play from Monfils to win it 7-3 and earn an impressive win.

Tabilo, ranked No 24, will play the winner of the match between qualifier Paul Jubb and Austrian Sebastian Ofner next.

Ahead of his victory, the Chilean beat Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko (6-3, 6-2) and Jakub Mensik (6-4, 6-4).

Monfils, ranked No 40, won against Austrian wildcard Dominic Thiem (6-3, 7-6 (3)), Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena (6-3, 6-4) and Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (6-3, 4-6, 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Mallorca tournament.

Mallorca ATP 250, other semi-final result (Mallorca Country Club, grass, EUR 932.135):

• Paul Jubb vs. Sebastian Ofner