MDP Live - Chilean qualifier, Alejandro Tabilo appeared persistent and surprisingly succeeded in overthrowing the first seed at the 2022 Cordoba Open season.
The world number 144 did his best to beat the host, Diego Schwartzman, 6-3, 7-6 in the semifinals of the Cordoba Open. With this win, he has now claimed 12 straight sets, including two straight sets wins in the qualifying round.
The Chilean overwhelmed world number 14 Schwartzman throughout a match that lasted nearly 2 hours with a powerful left-handed forehand.
"I've been playing my best game in the last few months and I finished last season pretty well," said Tabilo, who won his first Challenger event in Ecuador in November.
"I think I just need a week like this to put it all together and move on. Hopefully it's the start of something positive and hopefully I can maintain this level."
After taking a 4-0 lead in the first set, the Chilean used a powerful serve to secure three break point opportunities to win the set at 5-3.
First seed Schwartzman won the first two games of the second set but was helpless in the next four after the Chilean took control of the match with a powerful punch.
However, the host tennis player, Schwartzman did not stay silent and forced the tiebreak round. In the tiebreak, both players kept their serve until Schwartzman's backhand return hit the net at 6/6. The match ended when the home player made an unusual error after her return was too wide.
For the Cordoba Open title, Tabilo will duel against sixth seed Albert Ramos Vinolas after the Spaniard beat another host, Juan Ignacio Londero 7-6, 6-4.
In the second semifinal of the Cordoba Open, Ramos Vinolas fired five aces and won 79 percent of the points from his first serve.
"When I arrived here after Australia, I honestly didn't expect to arrive in the final," said Ramos Vinolas.
"I didn't play my best game. The pre-season I've had was tough, but I'm not feeling so good. Now I'm in the final. The only thing I can try is to fight as much as possible.”
