Zverev recovers from slow start to reach Rome final as Tabilo runs out of steam

Germany’s Alexander Zverev ended the sensational run of Chilean Alejandro Tabilo as he won 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 to reach the final of the Rome Masters for the third time in his career.

The third seed was out of sorts in the first set but bounced back well to win the second on a tiebreak and then, as Tabilko tired, pulled away in the third to reach his 11th Masters 1000 final.

Zverev, ranked No 5, will play the winner of the match between Chilean Nicolas Jarry, the No 21 seed, and American Tommy Paul, the No 14 seed, next.

Tabilo races ahead but Zverev pulls him back

Tabilo had beaten Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov on his way to a first ever Masters 1000 semi-final and the left-hander was at his brilliant best in the opening set, his drop shots leaving Zverev all at sea.

But the German, who had the little finger on his left hand taped after his fall in the previous round, found his game at the start of the second and slowly, began to work his way into the match, despite a few double faults which made his life tougher than needed at times.

The second set was close throughout as Zverev poured the pressure onto Tabilo and though the Chilean held serve twice to force a tiebreak, it was Zverev who stayed consistent, taking advantage of a nervous opponent to level the match.

From that moment on, the result seemed inevitable as Zverev pulled ahead of a tired Tabilo and two breaks of serve were enough to see him home.

“He didn’t let me play in the first set”

Zverev said he had barely had a look in early on as Tabilo continued the form he’d showed on his way to the semi-finals.

“I didn’t play well, but he was the reason why I didn’t play well,” Zverev said. “He came out hitting the ball extremely hard. A lot of drop shots. Playing extremely aggressive. He didn’t let me play. I have to give credit to him for not allowing me to play my game.

“I was happy to kind of hang in in the second set. I thought that the second set he also played better than me. But I hung in there. Kind of changed in the tiebreak, the momentum changed since then. Obviously happy I kind of ran away with it in the third set.”

The Germanis through to the final for the loss of just one set, having defeated Australian Aleksandar Vukic (6-0, 6-4), Italian Luciano Darderi (7-6 (3), 6-2), Portuguese Nuno Borges (6-2, 7-5) and American Taylor Fritz, the No 11 seed (6-4, 6-3) ahead of his victory.

Tabilo, ranked No 32, won against German Yannick Hanfmann (6-3, 7-6 (4)), Serb Novak Djokovic, the top seed (6-2, 6-3), Russian Karen Khachanov, the No 16 seed (7-6 (5), 7-6 (10)) and Chinese Zhizhen Zhang (6-3, 6-4).

Roma Masters 1000, other semi-final result (Foro Italico, clay, EUR 7.877.020):

• Nicolas Jarry vs. Tommy Paul