Djokovic stops Tabilo streak on Greece debut

  • Posted: Nov 04, 2025

Novak Djokovic was tested by a familiar foe in his first professional appearance in Greece on Tuesday at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship in Athens.

The top seed, however, found his range to thrill the crowd and secure a 7-6(3), 6-1 victory over Alejandro Tabilo — denying the Chilean a chance to join Roger Federer as the only men to begin their Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Djokovic with three straight wins.

“It feels really at home, playing in Athens,” said Djokovic, who recently relocated to Athens. “A few months ago when I came here with my family, I was very excited because I have always loved Greece. Serbians love Greece, for sure. Historically, culturally, and religiously, we have a lot of things connecting us.

“Athens is in my heart, no question about it.”

In front of a lively atmosphere at the indoor hard-court ATP 250 event, Djokovic impressed with his patience and precision in the opening-set tie-break before settling into rhythm in the second. The 38-year-old Serbian is into his 225th tour-level quarter-final in 25 different countries.

Having fallen to Tabilo on clay in Rome last year and Monte-Carlo earlier this season, Djokovic was intent on revenge in their first hard-court meeting, and he delivered. The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings extended his flawless 28-0 record this year after winning the first set, while also easing concerns about his late-season fitness.

“Playing against Tabilo, who I had never won against. We played two times on clay court, this year and last year and he won both of these matches. I was more under tension before the match than some other matches and I really tried to draw the energy from the crowd,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic awaits Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the quarter-finals in Athens.

In other Tuesday action in the Greek capital, Sebastian Korda clawed his way to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win over Damir Dzumhur to reach his sixth hard-court quarter-final of the season. With that feat, he tied Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton for the most by an American in 2025.

Earlier, Tomas Martin Etcheverry rallied past American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 6-3 in two hours and 50 minutes. The Argentine saved the only break point he faced in the deciding set and hit 19 aces, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Source link